Less is more: Why simplifying your resolutions can lead to greater success

Less is more: Why simplifying your resolutions can lead to greater success

Category Motivation

As we welcome a new year, many of us feel inspired to set ambitious goals that promise a fresh start and a more fulfilled life. However, despite our best intentions, resolutions often fall apart within weeks. Studies show that over 80% of New Year's resolutions fail, typically by February; and the reason isn't always lack of motivation. Instead, it's often because our resolutions are too complex, unrealistic or overwhelming. 

When we simplify and clarify our goals, we can create resolutions that are both achievable and rewarding, allowing us to make meaningful, lasting changes. Embracing a "less is more" approach boosts our chances of success and makes the process enjoyable, allowing us to focus on the aspects of life that truly matter.

Practical Tips for Simplifying Your Resolutions

Here are some actionable steps to help you apply this approach:

1. Set Fewer, More Focused Goals: Choose one or two areas of life to improve rather than trying to address everything at once. Then stagger the onboarding of each new resolution.
2. Start Small: Break down each resolution into smaller, actionable steps. For instance, if your goal is to 'get fit,' start by committing to 10 minutes of exercise daily.
3. Establish Consistency: Focus on consistency rather than intensity. A daily habit, no matter how small, will yield results over time.
4. Prioritise Self-Reflection: Revisit your resolutions regularly to assess alignment with your values. Adjust them if needed to ensure they remain relevant and motivating.
    

The Problem with Overcomplicating Resolutions

While a new year feels like the ideal time to reinvent ourselves, setting numerous ambitious goals can be more of a hindrance than a help. Overloading yourself with too many resolutions or aiming for drastic changes can lead to stress, burnout and eventually abandoning the goals altogether.

• The Trap of 'All or Nothing': Many people fall into the "all or nothing" mentality, believing that significant life improvements require monumental effort. For example, setting a goal to completely transform one's diet or exercise routine in one go can be so daunting that people lose motivation early on. By expecting massive changes all at once, we set ourselves up for failure. Simplified goals allow room for growth and progression, helping us focus on the journey rather than an unreachable outcome.
   
• Realistic Expectations vs. Overwhelm: Overambitious goals often come with unrealistic expectations, like expecting to double your savings, lose 10 kilograms or master a new skill in a matter of months. Such expectations can quickly lead to feeling overwhelmed. Research from Psychology Today suggests that the likelihood of sustaining goals is higher when they are small and manageable, as each little achievement fuels motivation and builds confidence for the next step.

Choosing One Focus: How Simplifying Your Goals Increases Success

Choosing one or two primary goals for the year is a highly effective approach. By limiting your focus, you allow yourself to channel your time, energy and resources into fewer objectives, leading to greater accomplishment and personal satisfaction.

• Single-Tasking vs. Multi-Tasking: Studies show that focusing on one goal at a time produces better outcomes than juggling multiple goals. Multi-tasking is a myth - aside from incorporating outright rote activities, the human brain is incapable of multitasking, so when we spread our attention thinly, our productivity and efficiency decrease. For example, if your focus is on career development, breaking it down to a single, clear goal - such as building a specific skill set - allows you to channel all your resources toward that achievement.
   
• Laser-Focused Dedication: When we simplify, we give ourselves permission to fully commit. Imagine a scenario where your only resolution is to exercise three times a week, compared to trying to juggle exercise, strict diets, improved sleep and financial savings simultaneously. With one priority, you're more likely to build a steady routine and enjoy a sense of mastery over time.

Building Sustainable Habits: Small Actions, Big Results

Big resolutions often feel impossible, leading to procrastination. Simplifying goals by breaking them into smaller, actionable steps helps make progress feel achievable and less intimidating.

• Creating Habits that Last: In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear emphasises the power of 'atomic,' or tiny, habits that are easier to maintain and gradually lead to significant change. A goal of "getting fit," for example, can feel overwhelming. However, by setting a daily step count or taking short walks, you create a habit that requires minimal willpower but builds up to more considerable change.
   
• The Compound Effect of Small Actions: Small actions, like saving a fixed amount each week, reducing screen time by 10 minutes daily or practising mindfulness for five minutes, can build up to significant progress. This concept is backed by the idea of the compound effect, where incremental actions produce transformative outcomes over time. Harvard Business Review notes that those who start with manageable goals are more likely to keep progressing and can adjust their goals to scale up once the initial habit is established.
   
• Staggered Onboarding of Resolutions: Starting too many new habits at once can be overwhelming, but a staggered approach allows each goal to build naturally and reinforces sustainable change. By introducing resolutions one at a time and allowing each to settle in before adding another, you set yourself up for long-term success.

The 21-Day Interval Approach as advocated by Dr. Caroline Leaf. Start with a single resolution and focus on it for 21 days until it becomes familiar. After this initial period, introduce a second goal to work alongside the first for another 21 days. Finally, add a third resolution alongside the first two, persevering for an additional 21 days. By the end of 63 days, the first resolution will feel like a habit and you'll be steadily advancing toward your goals without feeling overwhelmed.

Here are three practical ideas for staggered resolutions:

• Resolution 1: Morning Movement - Commit to 10 minutes of stretching, yoga or walking each morning for 21 days. A simple morning activity can energise you and set a positive tone for the day.
• Resolution 2: Daily Reading - Introduce 10-15 minutes of reading each evening. This second habit, added after three weeks of morning movement, can help you unwind and expand your knowledge.
• Resolution 3: Digital Detox - Implement a "no screens" rule for one hour before bed. As your third resolution, this small change will support better sleep and mindfulness, reinforcing the impact of the previous resolutions.

By onboarding one habit at a time, this staggered approach lets you maintain balance and gradually incorporate meaningful habits into your routine.

Aligning Your Resolutions with Your Core Values

Simplifying resolutions also means aligning them with what truly matters. When goals are rooted in our values, they resonate on a deeper level, making us more committed to achieving them.

• Discovering Your 'Why': Before setting any goal, it's essential to understand the underlying motivation. For instance, if a core value is health, a resolution to improve physical fitness should connect directly to a desire to feel more energetic or enjoy an active lifestyle with loved ones. This helps ensure that resolutions reflect what you genuinely care about, rather than societal pressures or fleeting trends.
   
• Ensuring Relevance: Goals aligned with core values make the journey more fulfilling. If family connection is a priority, a resolution to spend more quality time with family members will be easier to stick to than an arbitrary goal. According to research in Forbes, value-driven resolutions tend to be more sustainable as they align with our long-term vision rather than short-lived impulses.

Less Is More: How Simplified Goals Lead to Lasting Results: 

Do not despise the day of small beginnings. Simplicity is often the key to success. By simplifying your resolutions, you can approach the New Year with clarity and purpose. A pared-down list of goals allows for more focus, less stress and greater overall satisfaction. As you stand on the cusp of 2025, embrace the idea that 'less is more' and start your journey toward meaningful, sustainable change.

Please note, this article is shared with the intention to inspire and inform, drawing on current information. While we strive to provide helpful insights, we encourage you to verify any details independently. We hope these tips enhance your experience, but please keep in mind that we cannot guarantee specific results or take responsibility for decisions made based on this content.

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Author: Marc Ries