How can I make better resolutions this year, starting with my finances?

At a Glance

This article provides a fresh framework for how to make better resolutions that actually stick. This simple, three-part framework is called Goals & Guardrails and provides a powerful alternative to the traditional resolutions so many of us make but fail to keep.

This article is intended to equip anyone looking to live more intentionally—whether financially, relationally, or in any other area of life—with a useful tool to do so.

Why typical resolutions often don’t work

Shocking truth about resolutions: Most don’t stick. In fact, 80-90% of people who set New Year’s resolutions fail before February.

Why? Because most traditional resolutions feel like a pass/fail test situation: you crush it or… you quit. Without the right systems or structures in place, life does what it does. Once that initial burst of excitement or momentum fades and we get busy or knocked off course, we’ll revert to whatever our “default” looks like.

And once we begin losing that momentum, it’s easy for the whole thing to crumble. That commitment to being a “better steward this year” quickly becomes just a good intention. Or that new gym membership quietly becomes a monthly donation.

And all of that is incredibly defeating.

1) Clarify Your Vision

You can’t know where you need to head until you know where you want to end up, right?

So, picture yourself a year from now: What do you want to have achieved? Experienced? Let go of? What is God placing on your heart? How will it feel to make these a reality?

For some, this vision might be big and grandiose. For others, it might be the next small step in continuing down the path you’re already on. Either one is OK—there’s no right or wrong here.

If you’re not sure where to start, think about some of the following big domains of your life:

• Spiritual
• Relational
• Financial
• Physical
• Intellectual/Professional

3) Define Your Guardrails

Ok, once you’ve thought through your goals, it’s time to think about guardrails.

While goals provide direction, guardrails keep you on the road. They’re the specific thresholds and corresponding corrective actions you set up that warn you when you’re drifting. These guardrails need to be very measurable and should directly relate to your specific goals.

Think about these as protections, not restrictions. For me, my guardrails often center around managing work hours and staying physically healthy. Continuing with our examples above, here are what some effective guardrails could look like:

Spiritual Guardrails

• If I go seven days without being in Scripture: Go to bed 30 minutes earlier, get up 30 minutes earlier, and do quiet time before I do anything else.
• If I missed church or small group meetings more than twice this past month: Adjust next month’s schedule to get back on track.
• If I can’t meet with my mentor in person this month: Schedule a phone check-in by week’s end.

Relational Guardrails

• If I missed being home for dinner more than two times the previous week: Adjust next week’s schedule.
• If I missed a connecting time with a child or friend: Reschedule a new time before the week ends.

Financial Guardrails

• If I haven’t logged and categorized my expenditures by the end of the month, no TV or movies until its complete.
• If we’ve spent beyond the monthly budget: Readjust spending categories and assess where changes need to be made.
• If we’ve gone most of the month not contributing to savings or giving: Schedule this for next month and stick to the plan.

Physical Guardrails

• If I skipped working out this week, readjust for next week: Get up an hour earlier, or dedicate an extra hour in the evening.
• If I’m averaging under six hours of sleep during the week: Adjust my evening routine, and distractions must be put away at an ideal “sleep time.”
• If I average less than 6,000 steps a day for a week: Cut out screens after dinner each day until goal is met.

Intellectual/ Professional Guardrails

• If I go more than three days without reading: Don’t go to bed without reading, or no screen time before completing reading.
• If more than half the week has gone by and I haven’t had a “deep work” session: Schedule it on the calendar for an upcoming day and stick to it.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What’s the difference between a goal and a guardrail?
  • Goals give you a destination. Think of them as something to be reached. Guardrails are boundaries that keep you on track when life gets busy, or your motivation starts to wane. In other words, think of your guardrails as something not to be breached.
• How many goals should I set?
  • We’ve found it most effective to keep it simple. Ideally, one per life category, maybe two. Setting too many goals can quickly dilute your focus and throw you off track. In other words, it’s better to do one thing really well than five things half-heartedly.
• Do I need to set goals in every category?
  • Not at all. The categories are a guide; start where you feel the most need or energy.
• What if I miss a guardrail? Does that mean I failed?
  • No! Your guardrails are your early warning signals, not pass/fail tests. Hitting or missing one is your cue to course correct, not quit. As we mentioned above, though, effective guardrails are specific and actionable and relate directly to your goals.
• How often should I review my goals and guardrails?
  • Try to set aside time quarterly to review your Goals & Guardrails. Life will happen and sometimes you may miss it. If that happens, jump back in. (PRO TIP: Combine your review with doing something fun!)
• Can I use this framework for just one area of my life (like finances)?
  • Absolutely. Many people start with one area and expand from there once they see it working.
• What’s the best way to share my goals with an accountability partner?
  • Keep it simple! Share your top goals and guardrails, then set a regular check-in. The plan is commitment and encouragement and keeping what’s most important at the forefront.