On Resolutions

Happy new year!

Tis the season for fresh starts, new goals, and the grand promise of resolutions.  But why do we set resolutions?  Tradition tells us to, certainly, but most of us have a genuine interest in bettering ourselves.  In fact, many of us feel the need to do so in the same ways:

With such great goals, why do we fail?

Typically, I fall into the resolution death trap trifecta - too many, too big, too vague.  "Be kind to yourself."  "Actually practice scales."  "Get in shape."  In an effort to create a reachable, improved version of myself in 2016 (as well as keep one of my resolutions AND test my own advice!), I checked in with some resources on goal setting.

Advice is everywhere.  One author at Psych Central implores us to make "nourishing" resolutions in a "goal-friendly environment", one from The New Yorker suggests that the most successful resolution is a well-timed resolution, and a third at U.S. News and World Report insists that written resolutions are the only ones that count.  My interpretation is to combine these and combat the trifecta - pick a few breakdown-able, specific goals and track them in writing.

What works for you in setting resolutions?  Share below!

To do as I say, here are my 2016 New Year's Resolutions, categorized as a means to limit my resolution frenzy.  (If you don't care about my intellectual, physical, or professional ones, skip to the bottom for the musical.)
​

Physical:
Complete at least one Olympic distance triathlon, tentatively scheduled for Des Moines Triathlon (September) with a possible early bird Accel Triathlon (July).

Intellectual:
Read the following ten books:

1. Pulitzer Prize Winner - Orphan Master's Son (in progress)
2. Newbery Winner - Brown Girl Dreaming
3. Best Seller - Girl on the Train
4. Should Have Read - The Art of Wind Playing (completed)
5. Translation - Love in the Time of Cholera
6. Memoir - Words WIthout Music
7. Advice - The Professor is In (in progress)
8. Nonfiction - Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs
9. Poetry - Annotated Glass
10. Friend's Recommendation - (position vacant; inquire within!)

Professional:
Blog monthly.
​Thanks for reading January's!

Musical:
Listen to one new artist or composition every week, not required to be classical or instrumental. (As I write, I am listening to Martinu's Nonette​, though… cool stuff!)

​And yes, I will try to practice my scales, too.