Everyone makes New Year’s resolutions but hardly anyone sticks to them. Be exceptional this year with these tips for sticking to your goals for the New Year.
Did you know that of all the new year’s resolutions set, 80 percent fail by February? Every winter, we approach the new year with excitement and motivation.
And then we give up. Why is it so hard to keep the momentum going?
You’re not alone in this feeling. Some people boycott resolutions because they don’t believe they can achieve them. Don’t give up on your goals; you will find a way that works.
To achieve your resolutions, you must change your mindset and habits. Keep reading for the key tips to setting goals for the new year and how to achieve them.
Set Yourself Up for Success
Last year’s resolutions likely sounded like this, “lose weight,” “finish school,” or “get a raise.” While the intentions behind those goals are good, they’re not enough.
You need to be specific in your goals this year. Use numbers and dates to give yourself criteria. For example, “I will lose 10 pounds by June 1st.” Or, “I will run a marathon in less than 4 hours.” Being specific makes it easier to track your progress and gauge how much more work you need to do.
Break Them Down
Once you have your goals, break each one into bite-sized chunks. If possible, break each goal into 12 parts.
This means you have a mini goal each month to complete. Eat a healthy breakfast every day, for example.
Giant all-encompassing goals are intimidating and discouraging. Humans like instant gratification. Smaller bites give you something to achieve and feel good about.
When you feel good about your work, it fuels your momentum.
Find Accountability Partners
If you could do this all alone, you would have achieved it by now. We need support and encouragement as we work toward goals. More than that, we need accountability partners.
Find a peer that understands how badly you want to achieve your goals. They might have their own resolutions they are working toward. You can support each other.
To keep each other accountable, set a coffee meeting or Skype call each month. Ask the other what steps they’ve taken toward their goals. Discuss your failures and struggles, too.
When you know your partner will follow up with your resolutions, there is more pressure. That pressure can be what you need to stay motivated.
Reward Your Wins
Even if your goal is to save X amount of money, you can still reward yourself for small wins. When you accomplish a part of one goal, that’s a big deal. It shows you’re on your way and making progress.
Reinforce your hard work with positive affirmations. That could be going out for dinner or having a night to yourself. You might treat yourself to a gift, or gift someone else.
Acknowledge your success and be proud of it. Tell your accountability partner about it and bask in the congratulations.
Track Your Progress
From the first day of the new year, start tracking your progress. This could be in a habit tracker in your bullet journal. Or, a document on your computer.
Set aside some time each week to write out your progress. Take your measurements or test your speed. Count how many days you did yoga, ate breakfast, or worked towards your goal.
Even if no progress occurred, write that down. Once you have the data for a few weeks, you’ll see an overarching trend towards success. Some weeks there’s no movement, others there’s lots.
It’s often hard for us to see our progress when we’re in the thick of it. A tracking system shows us a wider perspective, so we can see that we’re on the right path.
Enjoy the Journey
Most goals don’t happen overnight. If they did, we’d already have everything we want.
Remember that change takes time. Creating change that affects the rest of your life takes a while to establish. It’s important to be realistic about what you can achieve in one year.
And, remember to enjoy the journey. Life happens between the goal setting and goal achieving. Try to experience your life through grateful and forgiving eyes.
Look at Failures Objectively
There will come a time on your journey that you’ll fail. You’ll gain weight, lose your job, or fall off the wagon. Failure is inevitable.
When it happens to you, try to look at your failure objectively. Emotions make failure seem like the end of the world. Or, they make you believe one failure changes who you are as a person.
If you can remove the emotion from your failure, you’ll see it’s only a road bump. You’re still on your way to achieving your goals, one blip on the screen doesn’t change that.
Renew Your Resolutions
Where did you write down your goals for the new year? In a notebook that’s now tucked away in a drawer?
Don’t let your goals become out of sight, out of mind.
It’s crucial that you renew your resolutions every day. Put them somewhere you can see them and read them. For some, that’s on sticky notes on a mirror or as their phone background.
Forcing yourself to read your goals each day reignites your fire for them. It reminds you to make the right decisions that day and focus on the prize. Tell everyone about your goals and keep them updated.
What Are Your Goals for the New Year?
Whether your goal is to lose ten pounds or run a marathon, mindset is key. Preparation and planning make your goal easier to get to. Accountability keeps you on track.
For many, the struggle is when they’re alone with their willpower. Can I resist fast food? Do I have to go for a run today?
You have the strength and discipline to do the work. Put the tips above to use and they’ll help you stay strong.
Another way to work towards for goals for the new year is to stay engaged. Read the latest news, tips, and tricks that may help you with your goals. You will achieve your goals if you have the will to put in the work.