TopBlogContent

Truly Smart Resolutions Are Vague Resolutions

January 3rd, 2008

New Year’s resolutions are always challenging for me. It’s so easy to be too ambitious and set your goals too high, which invariably leads to disappointment. I’m sure everyone knows someone who has given up on their resolutions before the end of January. However, being ambitious can drive us to become better people and to excel, so maybe it’s good to set lofty goals?

In my past life in the corporate world, we taught our employees to set SMART goals for themselves. Who doesn’t love an acronym, right? SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. This system works well in business, as it can teach people to divide challenges in smaller chunks, improve their performance, and measure their progress… but it’s not a very pleasant experience to try and run your life like you’d run a department!

I’ve always taken nearly the opposite track when I set my yearly resolutions, or rather renew my resolutions, because they have been the same for years: I’m purposely vague. Every day I strive to do at least one thing in three categories: something that focuses on knowledge or brain power, something that focuses on health or body power, and something that focuses on family and friends.

Photograph by Sally Mahoney. Some rights reserved.

This is obviously very vague, but it’s that vagueness that allows me to stick with it. For the first category, I can read an article, story, textbook – anything from which I can learn. Or maybe I can play a game of chess or have a debate with someone. Anything that grows my mind works – even researching and writing an article! For the second category I can obviously work out, but as much as I’d like to, I don’t have the time for a full work-out every day. However, a long walk with the baby counts too, or maybe eating a healthy salad for lunch. And the last category is always the most fun: get in touch with a friend or relative, play with the baby, do something nice for someone.

Those resolutions may seem very vague to people who set specific goals like losing a certain amount of weight or saving a specific amount of money, but ultimately they help me attain what’s always been my main goal: to be a better person when I go to sleep than I was when I woke up.

Submitted by Stefan Raets. Stefan is a refugee from the corporate world. When he isn’t reading or writing, he’s probably feeding or diapering his newborn son.

Entry Filed under: Hot