About every February I am guilty as charged. I start off each year setting out positive, hopeful goals for myself and very quickly get off track. Take my annual “Have more patience with the children” resolution for example. That usually lasted until the first time I heard, “When this show is over,” after asking them to do something. Time of breaking resolution: probably 11 am, every Jan. 1. The happy news for me is that I am not alone.

According to statistics compiled by the University of Scranton in the Journal of Clinical Psychology (Dec. 2012), about 45% of us make New Year’s Resolutions. Of those, only 8% report they successfully completed their goals, with 49% saying they were somewhat successful. 24% were brave enough to admit they fail. The top ten resolutions we make that only some of us keep are: lose weight, get organized, spend less and save more, enjoy life, stay fit, learn something exciting, quit smoking, help others with their dreams, fall in love, spend more time with family.

All ambitious and worthy goals. But with so many of us having trouble keeping our resolutions each year, why do we keep making them? What does Albert Einstein say: “Insanity (is) doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”  So this year I am going to try something different – I am Un-resolving: by un-doing my habits with the hope of being more successful in my goal setting.

1. Un-plug – I’m going make time to step away from my cell phone, tablet, tv and computer each day and focus on technology-free activities.   

2. Un-leash – my creativity. If I am un-plugged, I can pursue more artistic activities. I used to scrapbook, cross stitch, and sketch, and maybe I’ll un-cover those talents again.

3. Un-clutter – Instead of holding on to trivial things, I’m going to un-encumber myself of stuff. This should make my husband happy as years of un-needed school papers, holiday decorations that are never un-packed and clothes that are un-worn disappear. The junk drawer will be un-junked!

4. Un-expected – pleasures and adventures will be welcomed throughout 2013!

5. Un-decorate – before getting started on un-resolving anything however, I have to pack away my holiday decorations. So I better get busy.

Good luck with your goal setting for 2013! Don’t be afraid to try something different this year. And remember, it’s not what you do, but what you un-do that counts.