How NOT To Make New Year’s Resolutions

Most people’s resolutions fail… here’s how you can do better

Happy 2024! Whether you’re picking up a last minute resolution or figuring out an action plan for some ambitious goals you set yourself, this article might help you avoid shooting yourself in the foot before you even get started. Most resolutions fail, so let’s make yours the exception. Here are 10 mistakes to avoid as you craft your self-improvement program.

Mistake #1: Following bad advice

Here are two sources of advice to be especially careful with, since they usually sound like your best bet but they don’t always give you good advice: 🥼Science ✨Role models

I go into more detail here.

Mistake #2: Setting unwise goals

The sooner you realize that the goal you’ve committed to on paper is a means to a more important end, the easier it is to design a wise approach to getting what you really want. Yes, when designing goals, you start by understanding that there are different hierarchies of goal and designing your approach accordingly. Start by learning the difference between outcome goals, process goals, and performance goals here.

Mistake #3: Trying to do too much at once

It can be tempting to tackle a whole list of resolutions all at once, but this can be overwhelming and lead to burnout. Instead, focus on one or two resolutions at a time and give yourself time to make progress before tackling the next one.

Mistake #4: Not planning for failure

If your New Year’s resolution doesn’t come with a plan for what you’ll do if you slip up, that’s a massive red flag. Contingency planning is key. If there’s no built-in plan for handling mistakes and adjusting your approach, that also means there’s no plan for learning from your mistakes. Read on here.

Mistake #5: Not making space for change

Chances are that you’re going to have to give something up if you want results. A mistake people often make is to confuse resolutions with the act of powerlessly wishing they had more time/energy/resources than they really do. We all wish that, but wishing doesn’t create change. Read on here.

Mistake #6: Accepting other people’s defaults

Every default setting you take for granted is a missed opportunity for a better life. For example, have you ever asked yourself what the chances are that the default serving size is exactly the right amount for your body? Stop thinking in terms of plates and servings and start thinking in terms of what you need. More here.

Mistake #7: Expecting instant good habits

It takes time and effort to form new habits, so it’s important to be consistent in your efforts. If you fall off the wagon, don’t give up! Instead, try to get back on track as soon as possible. More here.

Mistake #8: Taking failure personally

Instead of taking failure personally and assuming the problem is with you, consider the possibility that the problem is with the program you’re trying to follow. Step outside yourself for a moment and look at designing your self-improvement program as if you were your own client. Would you rely on your client’s willpower to get them through an overambitious plan? There’s a better way.

Mistake #9: Believing you’re like everyone else

Different people are different, so what works for you might not be what works for anyone else. Understanding this is the single biggest step you can take in the direction of success. Start with what you know about “most people” and aggressively adjust it based on the highest quality of information available to you: self-discovery. That’s the key to crafting a self-improvement plan that won’t go up in smoke. Learn more here.

Mistake #10: Trying to solve it with willpower

Willpower is an fantasy you had the day you made the resolution, but when push comes to shove, reality kicks in. And the reality is that if your resolution is unrealistic for your brain and your lifestyle, it’ll slip. More here.

Thanks for reading!

I hope you liked it, and if you did like it, feel free to like it. Or give it a little motivational clap-clap (yes, you can clap multiple times if you like). ❤

Feel free to check out the links in this article if you’d like to continue my series on motivation and resolutions, or go straight here:

Resolved to learn more about AI? I got you.

I drew on my graduate degree in the psychology and neuroscience of decision-making to create this resolutions series for you, but I’m better known for my work in AI as Google’s Chief Decision Scientist. If you’ve been resolving to learn more about AI, you might enjoy exploring my blog and channels… and you’re looking for an entire applied AI course designed to be fun for beginners and experts alike, here’s the one I made for your amusement:

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