Happy New Year, everyone! Have summer on the brain? Thinking about your goals of dropping some weight or living a healthier lifestyle? Perhaps, you want to save some money and get better at budgeting? Or maybe you want to instill some other healthy and positive habit? No matter what your resolution may be, do not be like most people and give up or slack on your goal after the first week. It can be hard to maintain you goal. Life gets busy. Sometimes you want to "cheat" and simply rest. Well, I've been there and I've done that. I seem to be just as positive and optimistic about my goal as anyone else is for the first few weeks of the new year. All you need is that snow storm or that cold to give you enough "reason" to skip the gym one day or to splurge on that 50% clearance sale. I plan on sticking with my goal this year - as I say every year. However, I truly mean it this time around.There are ways to help you attain your goals. Granted it still comes down to you being persistent and dedicated, but here are some tips to keep your resolution:
1. Be realistic.
What is it that you are trying to accomplish? Regardless of your goal make sure it is in the realm of possibilities for yourself. Keep your goal(s) attainable. Is the goal you're thinking about right now something you can actually accomplish? Instead of making your goal: I want to lose 20lbs for the summer. Why don't you make it: I want to eat and live healthier or I want to lose 5lbs. Now, you do not need to make your goal specifically to lose weight, it does all come down to eating healthier and making smarter choices - the weight loss will surely follow. You may feel defeated if you set you goal for losing 20lbs and then May comes and you only lost 3lbs. You may plan to save $1,000 to your checking account, but may be bummed if you realize how much loans are draining you and you can only reach $500, for example. This is why it is important to start off small. Finances and weight aside, if you wanted to try to be more organized in the new year or read more, do a little each day. Read 5 pages a day. Make one list and accomplish 3 of the 5 items. Take it step by step and day by day.
2. Keep it simple.
Unlike that last paragraph, you want to keep you goals simple (haha). The longer and more detailed you goal is, the more you may lose focus on what you truly want. I once told myself I would work harder at this dance class that I take. My goal was to have fun and gain more confidence. Well, because I'm human, I got greedy and decided to make my new goal: Dance well enough to impress the dance teacher. There are several things wrong with this. I am neither a trained dancer - not that I lack moves - nor was I dancing for myself anymore. I started losing my true goal: to gain self-confidence and have fun. The classes became more like competition instead of a fun work out. Sit down and really think about what your goal is. If it is to lose weight, why do you want to lose weight? Are you unhealthy? you wish to have more energy? Let those answers fuel your goal.
3. Make notes and calculations.
When making goals involving health, write or type a small journal, iPhone note, or Post-It with ideas of how you can achieve your goal. When it involves weight, do research on exercises that help lose weight versus tone muscle. Research foods you can eat. If you're saving money, calculate how much money to set aside each month for you to spend. These little notes, journal entries, and calculations can help you reach your goal - and there is totally an app for just about anything from budgeting to food journals, so no excuses!
4. Don't quit!
I know, I know. It is easier said than done. The hardest days you will have are the first twenty-one. It takes twenty-one days to get into a habit or a routine. The first week may be fine because you're positive, inspired, and motivated. However, how are you feeling by the second or third week? If you stick with your goal for twenty-one days, it will become a habit and routine for you and it won't seem so bad.
5. Do it with someone else.
Competition is healthy and in our nature, whether we admit it or not. Trying to accomplish any goal (weight loss, reading more, etc.) will get easier if you have a partner or a group of people doing it with you. Now, if you can't get people to join in on your goal, don't fret and don't bail. Perhaps, these people can support you to make sure you reach your goal - if you really want it enough that is. If you want to make it competitive, it could be a fun added bonus to your goal to see who will "win."
No matter what your goal is, remember these 5 tips. You are capable of doing anything you set your mind to. I believe in you. Now, it's time for me to hit the gym if I want to stay on task with my resolution. Haha!