Happy New Year! May your next year bring you happiness, lessons, and good memories. Did you know that people have been creating New Year’s resolutions for approximately 4,000 years?! The tradition has been traced back to the ancient Babylonians. They made promises to gain the favor of their gods in order to start the year off right. Reportedly, they vowed to do things such as paying off debts and returning borrowed farm equipment. It’s likely that the age-old custom of breaking one’s resolutions – a custom that befalls the majority of resolution makers, according to statistics – originated a few months later. New Year’s Resolutions often create nothing but a cycle of shame, embarrassment, and feelings of inadequacy.
Instead of creating a list of resolutions, create SMART goals. SMART is an acronym that stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based. These elements help create a goal that is planned, clear, and trackable. This increases the likelihood of success because the goals become manageable and understandable. Visit Develop Good Habit’s website here to view downloadable SMART goal templates to help guide you into the future you want.