I wrote back in December about meeting (and exceeding!) my reading goals for 2020, but I never told you what my resolution for 2021 was going to be. So here I find myself, almost in February, reflecting upon my choice of goal.

I believe in resolutions that are small and achievable. I don’t need another reason to feel like a failure–depression does a bang up job of nagging me about that. I actually became a HUGE proponent of resolutions after my divorce. I engaged in them as a sort of finding-myself escape, choosing behaviors I wanted to incorporate back into my life.

In 2017, I vowed to drink more. Don’t judge me before you hear me out. I always joked about wanting to drink more, because I literally never drank. I wanted to relax and have a glass of wine every now and then. I wanted to go out with friends. And so I started to have some more drinks. I fell in love with Sauvignon Blanc and whiskey. I had a wonderful year and considered it a success. After a few years, however, I find myself back to nearly zero in the alcohol department. I think it’s quarantine…

Back when I was a brunette, on my way to work in my lipstick. Can you say parking garage selfie?

Wear more lipstick was my challenge for 2018 and whoop, did I succeed! I tried crazy colors and normal colors. I took tons of selfies. I fell in love with my lips. I’m still obsessed with lipstick, and until quarantine, you could still see me with lipstick on at work–the tube in my scrub’s pocket for touchups. Now I’m obsessed with lip balm and non-sticky gloss since I wear a mask all the time.

In 2019, I vowed to see more live music. And basically 2 concerts would have been enough to blow away my previous year’s record. Live music was a hallmark of my college years, as big music festivals started with Lallapalooza while I was in college. Violent Femmes were my hometown band (from Milwaukee) and I saw them many times. I also saw They Might Be Giants multiple times in college just because they were so fun. But in 2019, I started with Vance Joy for my birthday, Jason Isbell for the 4th of July, at least 2 bands I can’t remember the names of, and unfortunately had to cancel on First Aid Kit. I was all set to continue this live music resolution into 2020 but by February, we already knew something was wrong.

For 2020, I chose a goal related to reading. I had begun to feel like I wasn’t reading anymore. I wasn’t using my Kindle, but I wasn’t buying paper books either. My eyes were tired after working 12 hour shifts plus commuting. So I signed up for Audible. And I decided to keep track of the books I was reading on GoodReads. I signed up for their yearly personal reading challenge with a goal of 30 books–just over 2 per month. A reasonable goal, I thought, for my first challenge. Well, I exceeded that by 16 books, coming in at 46 total! So, this year my reading goal is 42 books, but I also have a separate resolution.

Lots of people make weight loss resolutions. I will never make one of those. I am, however, trying to move more. I recently came out of a multi-decade depression, so I feel particularly motivated to get a little healthier. I want to feel better when running around at work, walking up hills in San Francisco, etcetera. And the people that say things say that activity helps with depression, which I’ve recently discovered was my terrible and debilitating companion for the past 20 years.

So, how does a person make a resolution related to getting healthier or moving more that they won’t fail? That won’t make them feel like a failure? Something that is achievable? 

My apple watch challenges me to meet or beat my “active calorie” goal each day, as well as a stand and exercise goal. I pay the most attention to the calorie goal. When you beat your goal enough times in a row by a large enough margin, the watch will automatically suggest you adjust your goal upwards. I love meeting my goal.

So what, you might be asking yourself? My goal for 2021 is to wear my watch everyday. Even on my days off when I’m just bumming around the house. My resolution is not to beat “the rings,” as the watch’s goals are called. I’m still allowed to fail. I just have to try by wearing the watch. Simple.

So far, I’m succeeding. I’ve worn my watch every day since I decided on this resolution, which is 41 days as of January 30, 2021. And guess what? I’ve beaten my “active calorie” goal every day since then as well, and had my goal increased once–by 40 calories, we are not talking leaps and bounds here. Baby steps. Achievable and measurable. As I just typed that, I realized that what I’ve been doing unconsciously is using the principles of SMART goals from business in order to frame my new year’s resolutions.

I often complain about nursing school, but one useful thing I learned–specifically in the section on how to either do nursing research or make process improvement in the workplace–is to make SMART goals. According to this Mind Tools summary, in order to make your goals “clear and reachable, each one should be:

• Specific (simple, sensible, significant). 
• Measurable (meaningful, motivating). 
• Achievable (agreed, attainable). 
• Relevant (reasonable, realistic and resourced, results-based). 
• Time bound (time-based, time limited, time/cost limited, timely, time-sensitive).”

So how does my watch-wearing resolution fit into this?

1. It is simple and specific. Put on my watch every day.
2. It is measurable–as long as I wear it, it will gather health data. It is meaningful because the health data will allow me to “complete my rings.” And beating my own goals is motivating.
3. Putting on the watch is achievable & attainable, as it is simple (see #1).
4. It is relevant and results-oriented because it allows for increased activity and motivational benefits without “failing” a new diet or weight loss plan, like in more traditional resolutions.
5. It is a daily goal, in the hopes that it becomes a daily habit. Once in the habit, it should become such an ingrained part of my daily ritual that it is no longer necessary to “resolve” to put the watch on. After one year, I feel confident that this will be the case!!!

Have you made any resolutions this year? How do you make them? Do you use SMART goals, or want to start trying?