We are almost half way through January and chances are, most of you have already given up on the New Year’s resolutions that were made on January 1st. Getting back to the grind after the holidays can be stressful so it is understandable that some resolutions have dropped off in the shuffle of life. Studies have found that by mid-month, at least 71% of people have already given up on their resolutions and only 8% end up actually achieving the goals they began in the New Year. Sometimes getting back on track can be difficult but with the right tips, it doesn’t have to be. Getting healthy and happy is always a great way to start the year and it’s never too late to try again. Here are some helpful tips to get you jumpstarted again on your resolutions.
The first thing that usually goes wrong for most people is when they first decide on what their resolution will be. Most people chose a resolution that doesn’t actually address the underlying issue. A good example is most people decide to lose weight for their New Year’s resolution. Losing weight can be a great goal but sometimes losing weight becomes the sole focus. For most people, weight gain can be due to an underlying issue like food addiction or depression. In order to actually achieve that goal, the underlying issue must be addressed. Taking time to address that issue will help you to obtain success.
One of the main reasons why people fail at achieving their resolutions is not what most people actually think. People believe that they fail because they tried to set the bar too high and shoot for the stars. They believe that their resolutions are too hard. This is actually incorrect. The biggest reason why most people do not achieve their goals is the plain fact that they fail to plan ahead. Every goal needs a well thought out plan to help achieve success. People think that they can rely on their willpower alone to help them achieve their goals. Willpower should not be relied on alone. Willpower combined with a plan of action will ensure success. One would not build a house without a blueprint so why try to achieve your goals with a plan?
The first step is to then create a plan. Setting the goal itself is step one. The next step is trying to plan out when and the time of day that you can work on that goal. For example, if you have come up with the New Year’s resolution to learn a new language, then plan a specific day and time that fits in with your schedule. Use a daily planner to create that schedule. Use an alarm on your phone to set a reminder of that day and time. Schedule that learning activity for a time that won’t be stressful or put a strain on your already busy schedule. Plot out what you plan on learning each day. Sticking with the same example, schedule lesson plans every day. When you complete those lesson plans, you will achieve a sense of satisfaction. This feeling will help you motivate you to stick with your goal.
Motivation is key in achieving your goal. Getting motivated can be difficult and can throw you off your plan to complete your resolution. Staying motivated is actually easier than most people think it is. The trick is to change your mindset. People become to focused on the end goal instead of celebrating each small success along the way. Each time you complete a step in your journey, you should celebrate that success. Focusing on daily or weekly successes will help propel you towards your goal and to stay motivated along the way. Breaking your goal down into daily or weekly tasks (depending on the goal) will help make the goal more obtainable.
Lastly, sometimes people have a tendency to make a lot of resolutions. People feel like they need to go all out for the New Year. They feel like they need a lot of improvement and will end up making a variety of goals. At first, it seems like a good idea to make a lot of goals. Self-improvement is always good but making too many goals is can actually set you up for failure. Instead, try making one goal for the year. When you feel like you are on the way to completing that goal, make another goal. January 1st doesn’t always have to be the only day of the year to make goals. Be easy on yourself, make goals that are achievable. When you start seeing success, it will motivate you to complete the goal and then maybe you can try to achieve another goal.
There is no better time than now to start the goals that you want to complete this year. Even if you feel like you have completely failed, it is never too late to change that mindset. Any day of the year is a perfect time to start a resolution. Don’t take yourself too seriously, try to have fun along the way. Enjoy the process of self-improvement. It is important to not beat yourself up if you feel like you are slipping. We would love to know your New Year’s resolutions so please tweet us and let us know!
