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Dial In and Aim Small
New Year's Resolutions and How to Keep Them
Matt Virgin
December 30, 2024
New Year’s Resolutions
We’ve all heard the stats.
An estimated 80% of people give up on their resolutions.
From my perspective, this happens for two reasons.
Motivation is high when thinking about changing your life, but motivation comes and goes
The resolution is too big and not sustainable
Aim Small & Aim for Consistency
If you never exercise and eat whatever you want, you probably won’t lose 40 pounds in 2025. That is a huge goal which requires intense sustained effort through the year.
But, if you never exercise and eat whatever you want, you could add 3 exercises per week.
If that’s the only change, you likely won’t lose 40 pounds but you’re more likely to keep going.
Small changes consistently applied lead to big results.
We tend to take the rabbit approach instead of the hare, despite the familiarity of the story and the lessons we teach our kids.
Aim small and aim for consistency.
I’ve been exercising regularly since 2020. The most powerful goal I’ve set for myself is a target of 5 exercises per week.
It started at 3 and I had accountability setup where I’d meet a friend at the gym.
It eventually grew to 5 times a week and nobody holds me accountable.
I just do it because it’s part of who I am now.
That goal isn’t reached each week, but I stay close to it.
It felt hard getting back into a rhythm after Wes was born in September.
My motivation was gone, and a lot of progress that had been achieved over the year was lost.
Motivation comes and goes, so that’s where discipline comes in.
Goals of consistency help with being disciplined because it shortens the time until reward.
I felt accomplished each time I hit 5 exercises a week.
Beyond that, I felt accomplished each day I exercised because I knew I did what I needed to do that day.
That’s what happens when you aim small.
Your resolution doesn’t have to impress anyone. Small ones don’t, but it does impress people when you’re still doing it in December.
Hit reply! What is your resolution for 2025?
"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out."
"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop."
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
As a parent, you strongly influence the topic and tone of your child’s inner voice. Consider the words you tell them.
If there are red flags in your marriage, address them with urgency. A problem left alone will only grow.
I hope you have a great week!!
God Bless,
Matt Virgin
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