140: How to Reach Your Goals in 2023 Without Setting Resolutions

How to reach your goals in 2023 without setting resolutions

Do you set New Year’s Resolutions? Today I’ll explain why.

Plus I’ll walk you through 3 success strategies to implement in 2023 instead of setting New Year’s Resolutions that will help you be more productive and achieve your goals faster.

Why Don’t New Year’s Resolutions Work?

You’ve probably heard the disheartening statistics that 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by the end of February. And if you’ve set a resolution before and been discouraged a few weeks later when your momentum fades and you fall off track, you’re definitely not alone my friend.

If you’ve been listening to this show for a while you’ll know I’m a big fan of setting goals and creating plans to stay on track and follow through (I love me a good to-do list or detailed project plan).

And that might have you scratching your head. Um Nicole if you love goals why don’t you set New Year’s Resolutions.

Good question!

Here are the key differences between setting resolutions and setting goals that are backed up with a project plan in my mind:

#1 Resolutions are vague - things like “lose weight” or “make more money”. That’s impossible for your brain to stay focused on!

When we set vague resolutions or goals it’s really easy for our brains to lose momentum. To say, well “be more productive” is hard to do, I’m not really sure where to start…maybe i’ll just try again next year, and you’re back to your normal routine of feeling rushed and overwhelmed by february. Which brings us to difference #2

#2 Resolutions almost never have a plan - think about a resolution you set. It’s December 31st. You’re eating a delicious cheese board and sipping wine and you think “my resolution is to get more done next year”. Is your next thought to sit down and figure out how to make that happen? Probably not. You go back to your wine and somehow hope just saying that goal is enough to manifest better productivity. It’s not.

Goals on the other hand, work because they’re specific, and you create a plan to make them happen. You’re not waiting for the new year’s magic to help you out. You make a goal, decide on what steps you need to take, and follow through. That’s why goals work (if they’re done right at least)

3 Strategies to Boost Your Productivity in 2023

So this week when you’re feeling excited about 2023, instead of setting a new year’s resolution and being in the same place next december, here are three skills to boost your productivity and get more done with less stress in 2023:

Strategy #1 = start a done list

Our brains are really good at focusing on the stuff we didn’t get done.

You get 10 things checked off your to-do list today, but you immediately focus on the 3 things you didn’t get finished.

Reach 90% of your career goals this year? You got it - your brain is focused on the 10% where you didn’t reach your goals.

This default is meant to keep us safe. Your brain says, well if i focus on your mistakes, on where you didn’t get done what you wanted, then next time we’ll be more efficient and productive right?

Nope. That focus drains our energy and motivation fast.

Do this instead - Start a Done list. When you check something off your project list, don’t just delete it. Dedicate a place where you list those accomplishments. Maybe it’s a white board in your office. A note on your phone. Or a list on you computer. Instead of just crossing off those big projects and accomplishments as done, move them to the done list

Then at the end of the week, month,year, or whenever you start doubting your progress, review that done list and remind your brain just how much you accomplished this year.

Strategy #2 = Adopt a project planning system

Remember how I said one of the things that separates new years resolutions from goals is having a plan? That’s the benefit of having a project planning system.

I used to do this with a notebook and an excel file. It doesn’t need to be fancy. Now I use a project management system called Asana which I love, but you can start simple.

Here are the keys to using a project planning system:

It keeps track of all the steps - because that can really throw your brain off track. With a big goal like start your own business, or plan all your quarter 1 goals, or write a book this year there are about 200 tasks that need to get done to make that a success right?

And that can stall our brains. Because it’s a lot to keep track of, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

Having some system to keep track of all those steps makes life easier for your brain.

It also allows you to set deadlines. Because if it's not in the schedule, it's not happening right?

I know you’re busy. And making time for those big projects and goals can be tough. When we set deadlines, and actually block the time in our schedules we’re way more likely to follow through.

Like I said I use Asana but you can do this with a google sheet. Here are the steps:

Identify the key, broad overarching steps that need to get done
Brainstorm all the tiny tasks to reach each of those steps
Set deadlines working backwards from your end goal
Block time in your calendar to make it happen

Strategy #3 = Reward yourself for your small victories

You can do this with your done list. Create a plan to reward yourself for those small victories.

Our brains love rewards. They’re great motivators. But too often as high achievers we ignore our successes right?

Someone gives you a compliment at work and you shrug it off…oh i was just doing my job.

To keep your motivation, to keep your brain on track with those big goals, reward your brain.

Maybe at the end of each week when you review your Done List celebrate with a snack (food is a great motivator for me, a fancy coffee is my go to reward). Or do something fun to celebrate when you hit milestones.

Rewards keep our brains on track, and your brain is more likely to keep going on that goal (even when it gets hard) if it knows there’s something fun waiting at the end.

Episode bonus resources

This episode is brought to you by my free workbook - your daily productivity checklist. Ever wished you had more time in your day? This free workbook will walk you through the steps I use to set up my day to maximize productivity so you can get more done in your day (without feeling totally overwhelmed or staying up all night to squeeze it all in!) Download your copy of Your Daily Productivity checklist at https://www.drnicolebyers.com/checklist

Episode keys

I love setting goals for myself. But when that goal is super vague, or I don’t actually have a plan for how I'm going to make it happen, it’s easy for my brain to lose motivation and focus. Instead of setting New Year's resolutions this year, use strategies like a done list, project planning systems, and rewards to stay focused, keep taking consistent steps, and achieve your 2023 goals faster.

Show Highlights

[01:15] - 80% of New Year’s Resolutions fail before February.

[02:01] - Resolutions are vague. They are impossible to stay focused on.

[03:03] - Goals work because they are specific and have a plan.

[03:36] - Strategy #1: Start a “done” list.

[04:53] - Strategy #2: Adopt a project planning system.

[07:02] - Strategy #3: Reward yourself for small victories.

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