Oh, the joy of starting a new year. The beginning of the year means for most people the chance to start off fresh and to improve on things that they want to change. But for most people like myself, we get caught up in life. Even though you said you wanted to get healthier and go to the gym, around the end of February you find yourself stuffing your face full of leftover Valentine’s Day candy while laying in bed binge watching your favorite series on Netflix. Believe me, we all guilty of not sticking to our New Year’s Resolution. We are only human and let’s be real, life happens. However, if you’re like me and sick of making yourself empty promises that you catch yourself being upset over three months into the year, then this is for you. Here is a step by step guide to making sure that you make 2017 the most productive year yet.
1.) Take time to write an outline of things that you want to work on and improve.
What are the things that you wish you were better at or you want to change? Whether it’s getting into a new fitness routine, becoming a better public speaker, or save a specific amount of money, write it down.
2.) Out of the outline, pick three things that you want to focus on and what you view as a priority.
The key to having a successful New Year’s Resolution is to make sure that you’re working on becoming better you. If you try to focus on so many things, you’re going to overwhelm yourself. The goal to a New Year’s Resolution isn't to completely change you as a person, it’s to get yourself into better habits to create a better version of you. By focusing on just a few things, you can make sure that you are really devoting your time to making an improvement on those few things.
3.) Make mini deadlines for yourself.
If you want to lose 20 lbs, by the end of the year, set certain dates that you want a certain task complete. Make March 31st the due date to lose 5 lbs, June 30th the due date for 10 lbs, September 30th the due date for 15 lbs, and December 31st the due date for 20 lbs. By setting mini goals and due dates for yourself, it helps alleviates a lot of stress. By breaking up a large task into increments, it not only doesn’t seem as large of a goal to achieve but it will also help keep you motivated and teaches you time management.
4.) Keep a planner.
I’m serious. They are life changing. Write the things that you want to accomplish in it and keep track of assignments and tasks. Take time to write out what you want to accomplish for the day. Break it down day by day. Tell yourself you’re going to accomplish three things today and write them down and check them off as you go.
5.) Don’t get discouraged if you mess up.
Instead of getting upset and feeling like giving up, breathe and tell yourself it’s okay. We ALL make mistakes. Failure to complete your tasks shouldn’t make you depressed, it should motivate you to get back up again. Look, as cliche as this sounds, life isn’t about how hard we fall or how we fall, it’s about if you choose to get back up again. Don’t sit on your butt and feel sorry for yourself, get up and achieve your accomplishments.
6.) Reward yourself.
Sometimes we get so caught up in trying to get things accomplished that we forget to take times for ourselves. If you’re on a diet, indulge in a candy bar. I promise it’s not going to kill you. If you are having a stressful day, take a nap or watch a couple of episodes on Netflix. Take time to focus on yourself because you deserve a little you time. You’re worth it.
Even though sometimes New Year’s resolutions may seem close to impossible, I promise it’s not. Pace yourself, set dates, and above all stay positive. Even if at the end of the year you didn’t achieve your goal, you still made an effort to improve yourself. And that’s all that matters.
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