Re-engineer your resolutions | va marion health care | veterans affairs

Some estimates state that anywhere between 81-92 percent of resolutions fail. So what do we do about it? New Years resolutions are practically a tradition all their own. Every year, we

accumulate a year’s worth of motivation, set unrealistic goals for the upcoming new year, and then assume that the utmost discipline will be maintained throughout the journey of achieving

said goal(s). We have all been there, and we have all experienced the unfortunate, disheartening results. Some estimates state that anywhere between 81-92 percent of resolutions fail. So

what do we do about it? NOTHING WILL CHANGE IF NOTHING CHANGES.  A goal, much like any other target, is simply a metric used to measure our success with a particular process or skill. For

example, the ability to play a specific song on an instrument is not just about the song, itself. It’s the accumulation of various actions and habits over a span of time. One does not learn

the musical piece without playing the instrument. Time, effort, and energy has to be invested into building the appropriate coordination, memorizing the patterns, learning various

techniques, having a consistent practice schedule, etc. etc. The point is… The goal is simply a quantifiable representation of the collection of actions and behaviors that were completed in

order to build up to, and achieve, the goal. In other words, the North Star guides the journey, but it doesn’t drive the boat.  Goodhart's Law states that “when a measure becomes a

target, it ceases to be a good measure.” In other words, when we use a measure to reward performance, we tend to manipulate the measure in order to receive the reward. In terms of health, we

scratch and claw our way to the goal/metric without regard for our habits, health, and long-term success. Let’s use weight loss as an example. Many people either rely upon a temporary

weight loss tool or fad, or they will try to adapt to some Spartan-level routine that isn’t even in the ballpark of being realistic for their lives. We are willing to do anything to achieve

the lower weight on the scale regardless of what is sacrificed (muscle mass, metabolic health, etc.). Traits such as discipline and motivation are useless if they are not aimed correctly,

and we are not realistic about what we are trying to pursue.  A BETTER WAY. WORK BACKWARDS.  Let’s talk about a better approach. We must first understand that it’s the accumulation of small

actions, performed consistently, that lead us to the desired goal. Therefore, we must reverse engineer the goal down to the smallest, actionable items. These small actions create a system.

This system is the collection of building blocks that lead us to our goal. It’s our structure, and we want our structure to be strong and stable. As James Clear states, “You do not rise to

the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” Think of the small actions that could contribute to your goal. Think about how you can perform and build those actions

consistently so that they become automated habits. Then move on to more actions, and so on. Focus more on building the structure that will allow you to reach your goal vs relying upon

temporary shortcuts. Most people aren’t actually wanting to lose weight. What they really want is to be a person that maintains a healthy weight, as well as all the trappings that come with

it (i.e. better health, physical function, energy, confidence, etc.). This is a pursuit of an identity, not a fleeting achievement. We must cast votes for that desired identity by

consistently performing the actions and behaviors that will lead us there.   THE CHANGE TREE This year, we present to you The Change Tree. It’s a simplified way to practice breaking down

your goals into meaningful habits, as well as the simple actions that will contribute to them. Feel free to take this concept and expand upon it. Once you begin, you’ll likely find all kinds

of actions that you could improve upon. Just remember, start small, be specific, and make sure the actions you choose to implement are realistic for you. Let’s invest in our journey and

pursue long-term success.   REFERENCES:  https://jamesclear.com/habits-fail https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2980864/

https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/new-years-resolutions-statistics/#:~:text=Setting%20a%20New%20Year's%20resolution,keep%20it%20through%20the%20year.