It’s Time to Ditch Your Yearly Resolutions

January is a great time for new things - a new year, new opportunities for change, and of course...new resolutions destined for failure!

Cue dramatic music.

Yes, it's that familiar time of year when nearly half of Americans boldly declare their ambitious New Year's resolutions only to ditch them a week or two later. We've all been there – one week, you're meal prepping egg white omelets and plotting your path to financial freedom; the next, you're halfway through a pizza while watching reruns of The Office at 2 AM.

But we humans are aspirational creatures. Every January, we convince ourselves that “this year will be different.” Surely, we can muster up enough willpower to stick to those life-changing vows we make once a year?

Wrong. Within a matter of weeks, our well-intentioned resolutions go flailing out the window. Turns out we bit off more than we could chew, promising sweeping lifestyle changes that no mortal human could maintain day after grueling day. But what if there was another way? Instead of setting yourself up for disappointment (yet again!), I propose trying something radical this January - making resolutions not once a year, but once a DAY…

Why Our Pursuit of Perfection is Flawed

Let's face it – we live in a culture that glorifies perfection. From social media feeds filled with curated images of flawless bodies and perfect homes to the pressure to always be "killing it" at work and in our personal lives, perfectionism is constantly pushed upon us.

But here's the thing - perfection doesn't exist. It's an unattainable standard created by society that sets us up for failure and disappointment. When we try to chase after this ideal of perfection, we end up feeling inadequate and stressed out.

New Year's resolutions are often centered around achieving some form of perfection – whether it's losing a certain amount of weight or finally being organized enough to keep a spotless home. But what if we focused on progress instead of expecting perfection?

Daily Resolutions for Exponential Growth

Progress implies growth and improvement without the unrealistic expectation of flawlessness. It allows for setbacks and mistakes because let's face it - no one is perfect. By shifting our mindset from perfection to progress, we can alleviate some of the pressure we put on ourselves and find more fulfillment in our daily lives.

Think about it this way: would you rather strive for an unattainable goal that will only leave you feeling disappointed, or work towards small but meaningful steps towards self-improvement? Our imperfections make us unique and human and should be celebrated rather than shamed.

The Power of Daily Goals

Rather than setting lofty New Year’s resolutions that quickly fall apart, I propose instituting a system of daily resolutions focused on progress over perfection.

The key is keeping these goals small and achievable - think of those small things you can accomplish quickly that move you incrementally closer to the person you want to become. For example, let’s say your 2024 resolution is to do yoga 60-90 minutes daily. Attempting to motivate your unathletic self (me) to somehow do this is a recipe for failure.

But what if you started with a daily resolution to simply unroll your yoga mat or hold a 5-minute plank? These bite-sized goals are far less intimidating than transforming into a yogi overnight.

Daily resolutions also provide flexibility when life inevitably happens. Got stuck working late and couldn’t make it to the gym? Pause the resolution for a day without feeling guilty and pick back up tomorrow. Progress isn’t linear, and our level of motivation fluctuates. By giving yourself permission slip days, you’ll be less likely to abandon ship completely when you veer off course.

Give Daily Resolutions a Try

As we embark on this new year, consider breaking free of the cycle of failed resolutions, and instead build meaningful, lasting change through simple but powerful daily goals. Motivation may waver, but determination and consistency will be the keys to growth. I’ll leave you with a daily resolution that serves me well: “I will focus on progress, not perfection.”

Now tell me, what daily resolution will you set today?

Enjoy reading Kevin’s newsletter? Forward it to your friends and colleagues with a recommendation they subscribe as well. Here is the subscription link.

Kevin D. Brown is a branding and culture expert. He’s an award-winning motivational speaker, bestselling author, and the creator of The Hero Effect®. Follow him on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.