New Year Goals or Habits? Which is Best for You!
New Year Goals or Habits? Which is Best for You!
Okay sis, it’s time to get this party started!
It’s time to write down your New Year goals but with a twist!
The twist is that you are going to achieve your goals this year!
I know it’s been a while since you’ve done this, and that’s okay because you are not alone.
45% of people make new year goals but by February, 80% of them fail and only 8% of those resolutions are kept the entire year!
But that won’t be you because you are going to learn whether you should turn your New Year goals into habits or keep them as goals so that you can reach them!
Are you ready?
Let’s get started!
The Similarities of New Year Goals And Habits
Because I want to see you thrive instead of surviving, I’m going to share with you the differences, similarities, benefits, negatives, and help you decide on whether you should set New Years’ goals or transform them into habits.
Either way, this year is going to be your year!
But, before you grab your pen and start setting new year goals about how you want to lose weight and be happier, (those are my two if you’re wondering), let me ask you one question.
Do you know exactly what a goal is and what a habit is?
Simply put, a goal is an idea of how you want your future to look or the desired result that you plan and commit to achieving.
Whereas a habit is a behavior that is repeated and occurs subconsciously.
Both of them are similar in that they help you to achieve things. You can achieve big things like getting your dream career or something small like not taking creamer in your coffee using either habits or goals, which is good news!
But there are some differences in the two!
What Are The Differences in New Year Goals and Habits
Related: 5 Easy Ways to Radically Improve Your Health
Whenever you are choosing something over the other it is very important to know their differences.
When you learn the differences in one compared to something else, it helps to give you a clear idea as to how it will affect your life.
So if you choose to turn your New Year goals into habits, you would need to know how they differ.
Some of the differences between habits and goals are that habits are actions that are repeated over and over so much so that the behavior happens subconsciously.
This makes habits easier to stick with.
Habits do not take much will power or thinking at all.
You can say creating a habit is like taking the path of least resistance, unlike goals.
Goals are different from habits because they don’t become part of your subconscious.
To accomplish a goal you have to rely on extrinsic motivation.
You have to have determination, focus, and a deep desire to want to achieve your goal. But unlike habits, goals help you decide what direction you want to take.
Plus, they don’t take as long to create as a habit does.
But that doesn’t mean you should pick one over the other just yet.
The Negative Side Of Habits And Goals
Let’s get real here. Listing all the facts is good to know but to make the best decision for yourself you have to look at your lifestyle and the specific goal you want to reach.
Are you someone who starts something only to give up, become inconsistent, or forget about it in a month are two?
If so then maybe goals are for you.
By the way, don’t be ashamed if this is you because girl, this is me!
With three kids, a business, a spouse, and the list goes on, I start something with so much determination, desire, and motivation, but within a week, I tend to forget about it.
Ahhh…that’s a whole other story though.
Let’s get back to whether you should set New Year goals or habits.
So, one thing you should know is that goals require willpower and self-discipline. If you lack that then maybe goals aren’t for you.
Also, before we head into the negatives when it comes to habits, I want to tell you one more thing. Goals are temporary.
Depending on how you look at it, this can be a good or a bad thing.
If your goal is to lose weight, then there is an exact amount you want to lose. This means you have an endpoint that is suited for a goal.
But, if you have a goal of eating healthier, then you may want to create a habit because that is a lifestyle change.
Lifestyle changes are more suited for habits because they occur subconsciously. Habits stick for good!
They stick so much that if your routine changes or is interrupted, you may feel disturbed.
With habits, your actions become mechanical since they occur without you having to think about it.
Benefits Of Goals and Habits
Related: 30 Simple Ways to Live a Healthier Life
But just like anything in life, there are benefits. Habits help you save time and reduce your stress because it is not something that you have to think about.
This means your accuracy improves and enhances your outcome. In other words, you reach your goals and help you become the person you want to be.
But all is not lost because goals help to give you motivation. If you are feeling stuck and need something to give you a swift kick in the butt, a goal will help.
Plus, a goal helps give you a sense of purpose when your life feels like it is on rinse and repeat.
The Last Thing You Need To Know About New Year Goals
Now that you learned all about goals and habits it’s time to decide which is best.
And the best way to achieve your goals this year is to do both.
Set a goal so that you have a direction that you want your life to go. Break that goal down into mini-steps that you can turn into habits so that you reach your goal without having to rely on determination, motivation, and remembering your goal every single day.
By combining the two, I know you will be successful. I’m so excited for you and all that you are about to accomplish!
You got this!
PIN THIS!
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39 Comments
Lea
Never thought about new year habits before…but this makes so much sense! Great post
Nathalia
So glad you found Shawree’s post thought provoking
Astrid
very well explained! i also love that you wrote about the negative side as well!
Nathalia
Shawree did a fantastic job on this post about goals and habits
Amanda
That’s very smart, separating the goal into habits in order to reach the goal. I’m definitely going to do that with my goals.
Nathalia
So great to hear it!
Meredith Blaise
I love this, and you included the pros and cons of each! The funny thing is my main goal this year is to develop healthy habits and routines so… Anyway, I totally agree that we should not just survive but thrive.
Nathalia
Oh, I LOVE that, Meredith! You’ve got this.
Abigail@AbigailJane
Great post for the new year! I’ve never much thought about the differences between habits or goals so this was an interesting read!
Nathalia
So glad you enjoyed Shawree’s post on goals and habits!
Erin
I totally need to remember that healthy habits are better! Thank you for the reminder.
Nathalia
Special thanks to Shawree 🙂
Morgan | morganconsier.com
I love how you talked about the difference between goals and lifestyle changes. Goals defiantly have end points, so once we reach them (or don’t) what’s to happen afterward? You gave me lots to think about on how to alter how I phrase my “goals” for this coming year so I know which have end points and which are directions I’d like to keep going after the year is over.
Nathalia
That’s so great, Morgan! Glad you enjoyed Shawree’s post on goals and habits.
Robyn Jones
Excellent job explaining the difference between goals and habits. Knowing the difference can definitely help people be more successful with whatever they hope to accomplish in the new year.
Nathalia
That’s right! There IS a difference and Shawree did an excellent job explaining.
Tracy
Loved this! Snd it seems we know these things, but need to read again to refresh our new goals and habits!
Nathalia
Yes, it isn’t some big secret, but we need reminders.
Daphne
Yes. This. Habits are the important thing!
Nathalia
That’s exactly right!
Karen Chen
Loved how detailed this was, Nathalia! I am trying to incorporate more habits into my goals this year. Alongside goals such as be more assertive, I’m adding in some habits such as to work out 3 times a week! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Nathalia
That’s so great to hear, Karen! I’m curious how you’ll set yourself up for success with assertiveness.
Sarah Styf
I make the goals to develop better habits 🙂 I’ve discovered that focusing on big picture goals (better health with a plan to get there) is much better than “I’m going to lose X pounds.”
Nathalia
That’s exactly right, Sarah!!
Jaset
I love the explanation of goals and habits and the similarities and differences. Nice read!
Nathalia
So glad you enjoyed Shawree’s post
Heather Ritchie
Actually, I really love that you wrote about this because I think that you can do both. I feel like a lot of people talk about goals but not about changing habits that can help them reach their goals, like weight loss for instance. Changing some habits can help you lose weight!
Nathalia
So glad you found Shawree’s post hepful
Kathy Peck
Great post. I have written down my list of habits for the new year. Thanks for sharing.
Nathalia
Many thanks to Shawree for this informative post on habits vs goals.
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Casey
Love the idea of using habits to make new year’s goals – which are usually so unattainable – easier to achieve!
Katrina
I like to have a mix of goals and habits to work on throughout the year. For example, I want to make a habit of exercising 4 days a week and a goal of reading 65 books. Great post!
Nathalia
Wow! What a cool goal. I do think habits and goals work well together.
Nancy
This is great! I have never looked at goals and habits this way. I think I will break my resolutions this year into two columns (goals and habits) as it gives me a better idea of how to tackle them. Thanks for the post!
Nathalia
That is such a great idea, Nancy. They certainly work hand in hand.
Ally
Great post! I have goals and habits that I’m working on this year 🙂
Elle
I loved this take on goals vs habits. I always struggle to make my goals a habit and vice versa.
Nathalia
Have you read atomic habits? It’s about exactly this!