With the holidays behind us and a year’s worth of fresh goals ahead of us, it’s time to get serious about accomplishing some of them. Whether you’ve dubbed them New Year’s resolutions or short-term goals, the truth is that nothing gets accomplished without a step-by-step plan. The following are a few tips to help you stay on course and realize each of your new resolutions.
Tip Number One: Every major accomplishment consists of a series of baby steps. Whatever it is that you hope to accomplish, begin by writing down the daily steps involved in doing so. For instance, if one of your goals is to lose 20 pounds, create a daily list that includes exercising or eating healthy snacks to keep you from binge eating when you get hungry. Store this list on your computer, in your mobile device or paste it on your bathroom mirror, but refer to it each and every day so that you know what has to be done on a small scale in order to accomplish your major goal.
Tip Number Two: Just before bedtime set 15-20 minutes aside for reflection each night. During this time, assess the things you did during the day that helped you edge closer to your goal. Also, review the things that took you further away from it. Be honest with yourself in this assessment and endeavor to become more keenly aware of your strengths and weaknesses. In doing so, you will be able to identify habits or actions that are working for you, as well as those that aren’t and that need to be eliminated.
Tip Number Three: When you stumble, fall or get off course, brush yourself off and start all over again. One of the primary reasons people never accomplish annual goals is because they give up too easily. Realize that the process of making life changes is not easy. In fact, it’s a rather difficult process, which is why so many choose a comfortable rut over a real life-altering effort. Hiccups and delays don’t have to sideline your goals unless you allow them to. Instead, when you find yourself off course, take time out to return to your list of goals and start the process all over again. Time spent berating yourself for failing is time spent without productive focus. The sooner you get back in the game is the sooner you’ll find yourself stronger, wiser and edging closer to the finish line.
Tip Number Four: Grab a goal buddy. While we all like to feel as though we can conquer our goals on our own, the truth is that the process is a lot easier if you have someone rooting for you. Identify someone who you feel will be a good goal buddy and approach this person about meeting with you by phone, email or face to face at a regularly scheduled time each week to discuss your progress or challenges that are impeding your progress. There’s something to be said about the motivation that comes from accountability and performing before an audience. It will help if this person also has goals she or he is working towards, as you can return the favor by becoming an instrument for change in this person’s life, as well.
Tip Number Five: Always, always, always endeavor to accomplish a goal for yourself. While your New Year’s resolution may be to raise a certain amount of money for charity or to send your parents on their dream vacation, be sure to do these things because they give you a personal sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. A goal of helping others is admirable, but if you feel forced to do something or are manipulated by a sense of guilt, the chances of you actually accomplishing your goal will be very slight because you’re not motivated by a real, heart-felt passion.
Tip Number Six: Celebrate minor milestones. Don’t wait until you accomplish your major goal to pat yourself on your back, but predetermine minor milestones along the way and reward yourself as each is reached. For instance, on your way to losing 20 pounds, schedule a massage at each five pound interval. Stopping to appreciate yourself for minor accomplishments in your journey will help fuel you with the motivation and self-confidence to go all the way.
By using these tips to edge toward your goals, you’ll find yourself better equipped for actually doing so. Without employing these tips, however, you’ll likely find yourself setting the same goals year after year only to abandon them a month or so into the process. And if you’re one of those people who never makes New Year’s resolutions, it’s likely that you don’t do so because you’ve failed a few times too many. If this is the case, why not change your mindset right now and use these tips to help yourself finally accomplish a those goals that you’ve put off long enough?
By Laura Sands