Resolutions 2014: Learning from 2013

With another new year coming up, it’s time to start setting goals for 2014. Thankfully, you have a whole year of experiences that can help you streamline your goals for better results.

At FranklinPlanner.com, we updated our annual New Year’s Resolutions survey with additional questions on how respondents did on last year’s resolutions. The results indicate that 75% of the people who made resolutions in 2013 are still working on at least some of those resolutions as we approach 2014.

So before you start listing off goals for 2014, take a look at how the previous year has gone for you. Consider these categories:

Health/Fitness

• What sort of plans did you make? Listing specifics about your exercise schedule or meal plans made a big difference in keeping up with this goal.
• Are there any unhealthy behaviors that you want to change? Set a personal evaluation deadline in your planner and work towards those changes one day at a time.
• Did you keep up with the health professionals in your life? Visiting your physician and/or your physical trainer can give you additional resources and motivation to accomplish your goal.

Improved Finances

• Did you make a plan with weekly, monthly and quarterly goals? Taking these financial measurements makes it harder for your money to get away from you.
• Did you keep a spending journal? Try writing your daily expenses in your planner right after you make them, and add them up when you work on your financial plan. You might be surprised at how much a daily restaurant lunch adds up to each week.

Improved Education

• Did you sign up for class? Education is a high-demand commodity right now, so in order to get some, you need to be proactive. Keep a pulse on the registration dates for the institution you wish to attend, and sign up before registration closes. If you’ve missed the date, pencil a reminder in your planner for the next available session, or do some research on the admissions process.
• Did you consider online classes? If you want additional education but have career or parenting obligations that stand in the way, online classes may give you the flexibility you need.
• Did you read books? A survey by the Huffington Post found that 28% of U.S. adults didn’t read a single book in the past year. Reading a non-fiction book, or one from a different genre, will expose you to new ideas.

If you’ve tried these goals in 2013 (or for the past five years) without success, don’t be afraid to try again.  That’s the beauty of the future – last year’s results don’t have to predict your future success. Discuss your goals with your friends, be honest about your mistakes with yourself, and commit to a successful 2014.