Many of us start the new year feeling incredibly inspired and determined to better ourselves. We make a list of a hundred different ways we want to improve our lives during the next year. Maybe you want to write more, take a photography class, or learn a new instrument. Whatever it is, we start off the new year determined to reach our goals. Around the month of February, our determination seems to dissipate. Our goals seem unachievable and our time feels limited.
I think that the main reason new years resolutions fall through is that we want to change everything all at once. We cut our hair, start working out and enroll ourselves in countless new classes the second the calendar turns to January first. We often overlook the fact that goals are not reached the second we set them. Achieving your goals takes constant dedication. The truth is, you will not see change if you do not make a daily effort to pursue your goals.
The secret to staying happy and inspired throughout the entire new year is to create sustainable new year's resolutions. By sustainable, I mean setting goals that you can maintain throughout the course of the year. Sustainable does not mean easy. Sometimes the toughest goals you set for yourself end up being the most sustainable ones over time.
It is also crucial to ensure that every goal you set for yourself has a clearly defined course of action. Creating goals such as "be happier" or "create more" is not clearly defined. These unspecified goals make it difficult to understand what we are truly trying to achieve or change about ourselves. By establishing goals such as "eat plant-based four times a week" or "practice yoga three times a week" are clearly defined goals that you can work towards achieving.
For visual learners, I advise creating a vision board of all of the goals you want to reach in the new year. This board will serve as a daily reminder of what you want to achieve and will help keep you motivated throughout the year. Vision boards do not have to be fancy to be successful. You can simply hand-write your goals on a poster board or you can get creative and use magazine clippings and collage images. Your vision board should be unique to you and your dreams.
One of the best ways to stay motivated in reaching your goals is to handwrite what you wish to achieve. This requires you to focus all of your attention on writing down your objectives free from distractions. By writing your resolutions down, you are more likely to remember exactly what you want to accomplish in the new year.
My best piece of advice is to know that you can change your life at any time, not just at the start of a new year. While the new year often serves as a fresh beginning, you can make positive changes every single day. It is also important to remember that you can mend your goals along the way. By following these tips, you will be well on your way to staying happy, inspired, and motivated throughout the new year.
