2024 Strategy Planning Calendar

A key to success in winning your goals is a long-term outlook. Use our 2024 Strategy Planning Calendar to support your personal and company goals.

Quitter’s Day

If you reside in the Northwest, you're probably familiar with the challenges that mid-January brings - freezing temperatures, snow, and ice, without the infrastructure to manage it. For those who made New Year's resolutions to start running or walking outdoors, these weather conditions can be discouraging. Others may have faced different excuses, like misplacing their goals on a Post-It note or having them devoured by mischievous pets (my dog, Brady, feasted on my Starbucks coffee cake while I was shutting the door against the frigid air).

(Picture: Author’s “best friend” Brady)

But what if there was a way to overcome these obstacles and stay committed to your fitness goals? Strava, the fitness app, delved into this question.

When do people typically abandon their New Year resolutions?

Strava's analysis of 800 million activities in 2019, covering a staggering 8 billion miles, revealed that most people give up on their exercise goals within a mere 19 days. Forbes reports that the 2nd Friday in January (January 12th in 2024) is when many individuals bid farewell to their New Year resolutions.

Supporting this data, the University of Scranton found that only 8% of people achieve their New Year's resolutions, while US News and World Report indicates that a staggering 80% of resolutions falter and lose momentum by mid-February.

Now, here's the silver lining - Strava's research uncovered a powerful secret to success…

Strava's Key to Success:

Strava discovered that the real key to achieving your resolutions is long-term goal setting. Astonishingly, 88% of individuals who set long-term written goals for themselves are still actively pursuing them six months later!

So, what seven lessons can we draw from these studies?

• Set clear, long-term goals.

• Document why these goals matter to you.

• Visualize your success regularly and put it in writing.

• Create a vivid (even slightly scary) picture of what might happen if you don't reach your goal.

• Calendar your action steps to track your progress.

• Join an accountability group.

• Consider hiring a coach to guide you all the way to goal completion.

And last but not least, don't forget to celebrate your achievements. Overcoming a New Year's resolution or making lifestyle changes isn't easy. Take a moment to reward yourself and celebrate with your friends, family, and team. Remember, you've got this