Congratulations! You have officially made it through the first month of the new decade. January is a time when gyms overflow with folks motivated to finally lose that stubborn 10 pounds, shopping malls become a little less chaotic, and we begin our New Year ambitions. Although we love making New Years resolutions, most of us know the reality behind them. The truth is, year after year, almost everyone fails to complete them, and right now is when things naturally begin to unravel.
One of the biggest mistakes we run into when setting our New Years resolutions is that we are setting goals without a plan to follow through. Instead, take advantage of that energy and inspiration that comes along with the New Year and make a solid plan that will ensure you don’t give up on your goals! Here is a four-step strategy to help you gain control of your goals for the New Year.
Pick ONE resolution
A commonly made mistake when setting New Years resolutions is setting too many goals. We all have numerous ways to improve ourselves and it can be tempting to to do them all. If you have 10 New Years revolutions, you really have zero. Pinpoint one goal, and throw all your energy into it.
When selecting your goal, focus on what’s really important. Think about what you want to accomplish, and ask yourself, “Which of these would have the greatest positive effect?” de-cluttering your goals will help keep you focused and on track. Setting too many goals for yourself can lead to discouragement along the way.
Make it Measurable
In order to be successful, you need to make your goals specific and measurable. For example, if your New Years resolution is to read more, make it your goal to read for 30 minutes every day. If your New Years resolution is to exercise more, make it your goal to exercise 30 minutes a day, 4 times a week.
Be sure to review your progress and “check in” with yourself and your goals. If you find yourself getting off track, refer back to the plan you made. 30 minutes of exercise, 4 times a week. It can be helpful to keep a record of your progress as you go along, accompanied by some personal notes. If you failed to meet your target for the week, write down why this happened so that you can decide the best course of action.
Be Realistic
When setting your goals, keep your lifestyle in mind. It is important to be honest with yourself and take the resources and time you have available into consideration. Setting unrealistic goals will likely lead to a quick loss in motivation.
If your goal for the New Year is to become a better cook, try starting with one new recipe each week. This is a goal that is manageable and wont become overwhelming. It should be possible for you to achieve your goal.
Stay Positive
It can be difficult to make changes in your life but it is important to continue to remind yourself of the positive impacts your goal will have on your life. Next time you start giving yourself a negative critique session, tell yourself to stop it!
We all have weaknesses, and we all fall off track at times. Perfection is a high goal; don’t start, or even end there. Make doing your best your ideal goal. Avoid focusing on what wasn’t done or what should have been done differently. Be sure that you allow yourself to make mistakes and then forgive yourself. Remember, you are human!
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