Three Reasons New Year's Resolutions Don't Work

Reason 3

Goals are not specific and do not have a plan of action.

Goals, without a plan and focus are simply wishes. "I wish I was more organized" is not a call for action. "I plan on becoming more organized this year. First, I will start with my desk at home, throwing away all old papers and those that are no longer needed. Once that is completed, I will sort and file any papers that are left." This is a goal. And this is an attainable goal.

The second goal not only calls for action, it gives a specific sequence of events that need to happen and in what order they should occur. Writing down your goal and listing all the steps needed to accomplish the goal will help immensely. You need only to work on the first step until it is completed. Only then do you move on to the second step.

By writing your goal and the process on paper, you change from wish to goal.