Every year you hear the same thing on the news, people around the world have broken their resolutions within the first few weeks of the New Year. According to Forbes magazine, only 25% of those studied reported they stayed committed to their goals.
The most common resolutions include saving money, losing weight or getting in shape, travel more, learn a new skill and buy a home.
The reasons people may not reach their goals vary, but typically it is because they feel overwhelmed, the goals are unrealistic, or they get discouraged when they do not see immediate results.
Another reason could be that people only see the end goal and forget to set smaller goals that set the guidelines to reaching goals.
This year can be the year that you stick to and reach your goals. Below are a few tips to help you stay on track.
Evaluate Your Goals
Instead of just setting any goal, make sure you are reaching for goals that are realistic. If your goal is to lose 100 pounds by March, that is unrealistic. It could also be dangerous. Instead, losing 100 pounds in one whole year, that equals less than 10 pounds a month. This is very doable.
To make sure your goals are realistic, discuss them with a specialist in the area of your goal. For example, consult a weight loss expert for weight loss goals. Talk to a mental health professional if your goal is to focus on your mood. Consult an academic advisor if your goal is to further your education.
Working with an expert can also keep you accountable.
Make Yourself Accountable
It can be difficult to keep yourself accountable. Those little justifications and rationalisms creep in and tempt you to break your goal, just this one time, you will get back on track tomorrow. However, tomorrow gets pushed back and before you know it, the goal is completely severed.
Work with an expert who can support you and hold you accountable. Your accountability partner should be one you respect and that respects you. They should be knowledgeable in your goals. They should be tough but encouraging.
Your accountability partner can help you create a vision board.
Create a Vision Board
Goals are often forgotten because you leave them in your head rather than putting them down on paper. Over time your mind gets cluttered with things you are supposed to remember to do, eventually leading you to eliminate some of those tasks.
Your accountability partner can help you create a vision board filled with your goals for the year. Vision boards take writing down a goal and raise it to the next level. It is filled with pictures, words, and other items representing your goals.
You can post a picture of the new skill you want to learn, the books you want to read, and even that bathing suit you want to get into by December. Hang your vision board where you will see it every day and spend time envisioning yourself reaching those goals.
Get the APP
There is a downloadable free or fee app for just about everything. Weight loss, fitness, diet and nutrition, goal setting, education, hobbies, traveling, sleep, and much more.
Search for your goal in your app store and see if it exists. If it does not exist, maybe you are the person to create a new app.
Apps are a great way to help you kick old habits and start new, better ones. Most apps come with reminders and analytics to help you reach your goal. They can help you become more mindful too.
Be Mindful
You cannot reach a goal easily if your mind, body and spirit are out of balance. You probably tell yourself often that you are going to start paying better attention to your own needs. Well, now is the time to do that.
Even though you do not need a reason to be more mindful, it sure can help you stick to your goals. That is because mindfulness means listening to your body and mind. When you recognize an area in need of attention, follow through and heal that part with the help of an expert.
If you have been battling anxiety lately, and you are noticing the effects anxiety can have on your body and mind, seek help.
The healthier you are, the quicker and easier it will be to stick to your goals.
Break Down Your Goals
If you are only focused on the long-term goal, it can become overwhelming, like something that is unattainable. You could be right, unless you break it down into smaller goals.
For instance, if you struggle with panic attacks, your long-term goal may be to stop having panic attacks. Okay great, now what? Most people with panic disorder fear having other panic attacks, especially in public or out of their safety zone.
So, just visualizing yourself as panic free is not good enough. It is almost impossible to do without the help of an expert. Short-term goals may look something like this: find an anxiety specialist; meet with them each week to learn why you feel anxious; learn techniques to stop panic attacks; practice what you have learned in real life situations; overcome panic disorder.
Breaking it into smaller goals makes your long-term goal seem achievable because what to do is take the first step, then the second, etc.
Believe in YOU
When you tell yourself you can do something, you have a greater chance of being right. If you tell yourself you are going to fail, you probably will.
There is no reason not to believe you will be successful if you are following the steps above. Work with a coach or expert in the area of your goal. Put your visions for yourself on a board and view it each day. Make yourself accountable. Be realistic. Be mindful. Set short-term goals that will lead to long-term success.
Finally, reward yourself as you make progress. You are doing what 75% of Americans cannot do, stick to your New Year’s Goal. Happy 2020!