A Charitable New Year's Resolution

2019 is right on our doorstep!

It's time to start thinking about your New Year's Resolutions. 

Many people try to come up with a goal that meets the following parameters. Let's discuss them, and then look at a few golf-themed options that satisfy all four requirements!

• Quantifiable
• Attainable
• Desirable
• Enjoyable

 Quantifiable

Your New Year's Resolution needs to be something you can actually quantify. At the end of the year (or each month, or each day) you need to be able to ask, "Did I complete my goal?" and answer "Yes" or "No." Ideally, it's something specific enough that you can pinpoint the exact moment you achieved it.

Instead of saying "I'd like to be more charitable," consider choosing "I'd like to donate to charity with every paycheck." Instead of saying "I want to work out more," set a specific goal of working out at least once a week. Or twice a week. Or every day!

By making your goal quantifiable, you can better hold yourself accountable. You can ask "Did I work out this week?" and if the answer is "No," get out there and do it!

Attainable

Don't make your New Year's Resolution something you know you can't do. There's a difference between impossible and challenging. Don't make your goal "walk on the moon" or "meet the President" or "become a professional dancer" unless those tasks are actually in line with your experience and capability.

That being said, you can always use those as long term goals and make your New Year's Resolution something that will help you to eventually achieve that goal. For example, take classes in the sciences if you dream of the moon. Be politically active if you want to shake hands with the President one day. Make it a goal to attend a dance or dance class every single week. 

Desirable

Don't use your New Year's Resolution as a reason to look down upon yourself. It isn't supposed to make you feel worse - it's supposed to make you feel motivated and empowered to change yourself for the better. If you hate running, but you want to get into shape don't make your resolution to run. Find a different exercise that you enjoy. Setting your goal as "try a new workout every other week until I find one I am passionate about" is an excellent choice. 

Likewise, don't use it as a way to make yourself miserable! Deciding to donate 20% of your income would be very generous, but if it puts you in so much financial strain that you are miserable, it's not a good resolution. Deciding to donate a smaller percentage of your income to charity and vowing to volunteer with a group every month would be a better experience!

You should want to do your New Year's Resolution, not dread it. Dreading it is the first step to giving up on it altogether.

Enjoyable

Give yourself a great gift on New Year's. Give yourself the gift of fun! Choose a resolution that will create greater enjoyment and happiness in your life, whether it be through bettering yourself, helping others who need it, reconnecting with old friends, spending more time on a hobby, or something as simple as trying a new restaurant every week. 

If you're enjoying your resolution, it won't be a resolution for long - it will become part of your life, and you will be free at the next year to make a new, even better one!

Ideas for Resolutions

If you're a golf fan, there are easy ways to incorporate the sport into your resolution, whether you're a recreational player or a competitive player.

• Charitable Player: Participate in at least one golf tournament benefiting a charity every three months.
• Charitable Businessowner: Plan and host a charity at a golf course benefiting your favorite local or national charity.
• Volunteer Dreams: Volunteer to help coordinate a golf tournament for charity every three months.
• Sport Newbie: Take one golf lesson a month each month of the year.
• Sport Amateur: Hit the course once every two weeks.
• Sport Enthusiast: Hit the course once every week.
• Sport Pro: Host your first golf lesson by June, and continue hosting through the end of the year.
• Sport Expert: If you already teach lessons, donate a private lesson prize to every single tournament that is held on your course.