New Year’s Resolutions and Goals: A Simple and Proven Three-Step Plan to Make Them Actually Work
Welcome to 2026!
Welcome to 2026. As the year turns, many of us feel a quiet pull to do life a bit differently. “Resolutions” and “goals” get used interchangeably, but they aren’t the same, and using them together wisely is what makes change stick.
The truth is, by itself, I’ve never really liked the word “resolution.” For many, it’s laced with unmet, long-term, vague, or sometimes unrealistic goals. For example, I just decided to run a marathon in March and will start training in February. It’s just plain too hard to maintain our motivation under these circumstances. This diminished enthusiasm is probably one of the main reasons research shows that more than 80% of New Year’s resolutions are broken.
Quick distinction: A resolution sets direction (the “why/where”). A goal creates movement (the specific “what/when/how”). Used together, resolutions point your compass; goals move your feet.
When vague, resolutions can look like, “I want to be closer to people.” That’s a genuinely nice resolution to focus on, but what does being close to people really mean to you? What does being close to people actually look like? What does it feel like? How do you know if you accomplished it? For me, the answer lies in making one or more resolutions, setting specific goals, and establishing a time to complete each goal. Why?
The word “goals” has more of a sense of being a specific target that is realistically achievable within a defined amount of time. A goal requires action! A goal, by definition, requires a conscious intention to do something. Think of it this way: Resolution = direction. Goal = action + timeframe.
With that in mind, here’s a simple way to put them to work. Direction first, then actions, then a time frame.S o, if I state my resolution of wanting to be closer to people, I simply start a list of goals to help bring my resolution to life. I have a simple three-step recipe:
1. Make a Resolution. Determine what you want, wish, need, or desire in your life. What is your resolve? Start tiny on purpose. Early wins keep motivation alive.
2. Target Specific Goals. This will help you achieve your resolution. Be specific about your intention(s). Develop a detailed plan of action. Limit to three primary goals per quarter to avoid overload.
3. Establish a Timeline. Give yourself a timeline to achieve your short- and long-term goals when possible. Setting a time to complete your goals is one of the proven and best ways to help with your accountability. Doing this will significantly increase your chances of achieving your goals. Napoleon Hill once said, “A goal is a dream with a deadline.” Put deadlines on the calendar; treat them like appointments with yourself.
Tip: Ask a buddy (spouse, partner, friend, colleague) to help you be accountable.
Tip: Reward yourself when you achieve your resolutions and goals! When you miss a day, call it a reset, not a failure. Growth is cyclical, not a straight line.
To help you, here’s an example of my first and most important resolution for 2026, my goals, and an action plan to make it happen, including specific timelines to meet my goals.
Resolution: Experience More Connection
Much research shows an increased emotional connection with ourselves and others, which can dramatically enhance our mental and physical well-being. A lack of personal and intimate connection will likely lead to isolation and extreme loneliness. In short, we need each other. And after a year like we’ve just had, connection is more important than ever!
For me, there is no more powerful experience than enjoying an emotional connection with people. It is a delightful, warm, and fulfilling experience. And the deeper the connection, the greater the experience of closeness. I naturally want more!
Goals To Experience More Connection (with timeframe)
Call one person weekly for a real conversation (schedule Fridays at 4 pm; two reminders).
Name one specific appreciation in each call (write it down first if that helps).
Spend one week “intentionally offline” from social in February; use that time to message two people for a call instead.
Review an “A-list” of relationships by the second Sunday in January; choose 3 to nurture this quarter.
Add two charities this year (pick the first by Jan 31, the second by Mar 31).
6. Ask in each call: “What’s one specific way I can support you?”
7. Put phones away during conversations. Practice full attention for 10 minutes at a time.
I hope that my personal example of a single resolution and the goals to achieve it are helpful. You can apply this simple three-step model to virtually any change you want in your life. Be as specific as you can, be patient, think about the results you want in the short and long term, establish some initial timelines to help with accountability, and be flexible, as life has a habit of throwing an occasional curveball!
This exercise is one of my very favorite things to do with my clients. They frequently tell me that they enjoy this activity when they see what old and/or new and exciting things are possible in their lives! If you would like help with your resolutions and goals, give me a call to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to see what we can do to help you achieve them.