Let’s be honest… sticking with New Year’s Resolutions is usually futile, but it doesn’t have to be!
I’ve got two main resolutions for 2018:
- I want to jot down something that I am grateful for every day so that at the end of 2018, I can look back and see all the good that happened that year.
- I want to lose 15 pounds by April so that I have my #CoachellaBody ready to go!
These can be hard to keep up with, just like every other resolution, but I’ve got tips to help you own 2018!*
- Define Your Goals:
Either verbally, mentally, or written down, state what it is that you want to accomplish. Try to avoid vague resolutions like “I want to lose weight.” Instead, make it specific, like “I want to lose 15 pounds.” You want your resolutions to have specific outcomes AND you want to have a timeline so that you don’t fall into the trap of putting things off. So in addition to wanting to lose 15 pounds (or whatever your goal may be), give yourself a deadline. Also be sure to make sure your goals are realistic. If you want to lose weight, losing 20 pounds in 1 month might be a little tricky, but if you give yourself some more time, losing 20 pounds in 4 months might be more attainable. - Check Points:
Keep tabs on your goals and check in with yourself to see what type of progress you’re making. If your goal is to save money, try coming up with a goal like “I want to save $100 each month,” as opposed to “I want to save $1200 this year.” The latter may seem more daunting so giving yourself a monthly check point makes it feel more manageable. - Keep A Calendar/Set Reminders:
This one is pretty straightforward – figure out a way to remind yourself daily/monthly/weekly/etc. to stick with your goal. I like to set reminders on my phone daily to remind me to stay on top of my tasks. Find what works for you! - Be Flexible:
This is probably the hardest to accept but we won’t accomplish everything we set out to do 100% of the time, and that’s okay. The majority of New Year’s Resolutions are about lifestyle changes so even if you’re making small progress, it’s still a step in the right direction. If you feel that you can’t keep up with your original goal, make some modifications and stick with it but try not to change it too much. If you think that saving $100 a month might be too tough, try reducing it a bit to $60 a month so the stress lessens but you’re still working on what your intention was. - Have An Accountability Partner:
Especially with goals pertaining to exercise and money management, I sometimes need someone to guilt me into things. Now maybe guilt isn’t the most effective approach for you, but it still helps having someone check in with you to see what type of progress you’re making. An outside perspective helps you examine your goals from a different angle, and maybe if you need to make modifications, set up check points, etc., your accountability partner can help. It can be a friend, a partner, a co-worker, a family member, or maybe even a gym employee!
So there you have it! Obviously, there are more ways to help you reach your goals but hopefully these tips help jump start your motivation and help you follow through as well! I hope you have a great New Year! Talk to you again in 2018!
*Thanks to Lifehack.com for the helpful tips!
