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Writer's pictureEric Tangumonkem, Ph.D.

New year resolutions are useless: If you want a different outcome for 2022, set SMART Goals




New year resolutions are useless: If you want a different outcome for 2022, set SMART Goals

When I was a child, I made new year resolutions, and they worked for a few days and at most one month. I will say things like :

I will pray more this year
I will exercise more this year
I will read more books this year
I will be good this year
I will eat less this year
I will be less angry this year
I will read my bible more this year

The list can go on and on.

There is nothing wrong with wishing and desiring any of the things listed above. The problem is with the inability to quantify what is meant by more or less. In other words, you don’t have a fixed amount that can be measured.

If it cannot be measured, it cannot be improved. And you will never know if you archived it or not. It is like deciding to drive to a city. However, you don’t know the city's name or where it is located. You just wish to go to that city and buy something you need badly. You are getting into the car and driving will not solve your problem. Just because you are going does not guarantee that you will get to your destination.

To get to a specific destination, you must start with the end. You must be as clear as possible. Without clarity, you will never get there. How do you expect to arrive in the city if it is located in the north and you are driving to the south?

The example is absurd because most of what we do does not make sense. No wonder many people buy gym membership in January, and by February, they stop going to the gym.

Why do people spend their hard-earned money and don’t make use of it?

To get to your final detonation, in other words, achieve what you want or desire. You must be as specific as possible and have a strong why.

Why do you want what you want?

Why do you want to earn more money?

Why do you want to read more books

Why do you want to be healthier?

Why do you want a better marriage?

Why do you want a job promotion?

Your why will make or break you. Before you desire anything, you must tire it to an extremely strong why.

Let me ask you a few questions before we continue.

Do you want to continue in poor health in 2022?

Do you want to remain poor and broke?

Do you want to improve your leadership skills?

Do you want to be more productive?

You can add your own questions in there. I hope you get the point.

When it comes to doing well, there are about five major areas of our lives that we need to work on daily.

  • Your spiritual life

  • Your health

  • Your finances

  • Your personal growth and development

  • Your relationships

For 2022 to be different, you will need to set some SMART goals in these five areas.

The power of a secret is inconsistency and daily discipline. To do that, you need to start with the destination in mind. Then break the goal into smaller steps you can take daily.

For example, my health goal for 2021 was to do 94900 pushups. That is to say. My destination was 94900 pushups. When you hear 94900 pushups, it can be mind-burgling and almost impossible. Yet I did them because I committed to doing 260 per day, seven days a week unfailingly.

The other goal was to fast for a minimum of 52 days. This is almost two months. It can be done quickly by fasting one day a week. However, if you try to fast for two months straight or do 94900 pushups in a day, you will fail.

Setting SMART goals means the goals must be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time -Based.


For example, at the beginning of 2021, I set a goal to do 94900 pushups by the end of 2021.

The goal is Specific (Do pushups).

The goal is Measurable (94900 pushups)

The goal is Attainable (do 260 per day)

The goal is Relevant (improve my health by building muscle and stamina)

The goal is Time-based (the end of 2021)


SMART goals make a lot of sense; however, you need a secret ingredient if you want to succeed.

Your why must be very strong. You have to break the goal into smaller chunks that will be done daily. You can do weekly, monthly, or yearly. However, daily will get your there faster and more secure.

Have you ever said you will sit down on the weekend and write or read a book or realize that you never get it done? When you skip a day and say you will catch up the next day, the habit you are developing is that of skipping. However, if you make a daily commitment and stick to it, you will be unstoppable.

Now you are thinking, I must be crazy for demanding daily discipline. Don't do anything if you like where you are right now and how your life is unfolding. However, if you want a different outcome, you must move from wishing, making resolutions, and setting SMART goals. These goals must be fueled by a strong why and broken into smaller pieces you can easily do.

Now is your turn to set goals for 2022 in the five areas that I mentioned. Let me know what you think, and don’t forget to share this article with others.

I wish you a happy new year, 2022. However, my wishes will not change anything in your life if you don’t set SMART goals. Make the wishes come true by doing your part.

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