It’s a new year. With that comes the inevitable question: “What’s your New Year’s Resolution?” There are the standard answers like lose weight, quit smoking, control my temper. All good things, but they fall into the same category of things we “give up” for Lent – things we should be doing anyway. But, if trading this year’s calendar for last year’s gives you enough head space to freshly tackle one of these, God speed!

A few years I set some easy resolutions for myself like: “Never use an even number on the microwave.” :00s and :30s are for sheep. I’ll make up my own numbers, thank you very much. That Lean Cuisine will taste just as terrible at 3:33 instead of 3:30, so why not? Another year I resolved to not start smoking. Having never smoked, it seemed pretty easy to accomplish, and it was.

Some people are turned off by the word resolve and instead set goals for themselves. Psychology can show us that just telling someone your resolution can feel like you’ve already accomplished something, and take the steam out of your progress. A well-set goal has metrics that are hard to argue with. Either you reached them or you didn’t. Or, a little softer, you are closer to them or not.

Still others decide on a project. Either one of their own design, or one to participate in with a group. Declutter. Minimize. Book Club. Learn something new. Take up a new hobby. Practice a discipline. A project comes with flexibility as well as accountability. How much of each depends on how you structure your project.

I’ve done several projects over the years as well. Learn to figure draw. Learn a new language. And this year I am going with another project. More on that in my next post.

Are you setting any resolutions, goals, or projects for yourself this year? I’d love to hear about it.