How You Can Make the Most of New Year’s Resolutions

If you’re one of the many people who make a list around this time, take a look and learn how you can make the most of new year’s resolutions

The beginning of the year is the perfect time to reflect on the previous year’s journey and get motivated for the times and year ahead.The time-honored tradition of New Year’s resolutions promises a fresh start. And let's face it, 2020 is a year many of us would like to leave in the past.Take this period to renew lost commitments and begin new projects, goals, or dreams.Everyone wants to get fit, burn off all those extra holiday calories, and pay off debt. About 45% of all Americans make New Year’s Resolutions, but only 8% are actually successful at achieving their goals! Can you believe it? 8%?!If you’re one of the many people who make a big list of New Year’s resolutions only to find that you have a hard time sticking to them as the year progresses, these simple tips will help you get over the hurdle and stick to your goals:

1. Make Them Do-Able

If you create this MASSIVE goal that’s so outlandish that even Superman can’t manage it, what makes you think you’ll accomplish it?

For example, if you don’t exercise at all, it’s unrealistic and unfair to ask yourself to turn into a fitness buff overnight. If you set your goals so unrealistically high, it ends up as all-or-nothing—which is just a recipe for failure.

Start with something that’s attainable that is actually something you can reach, and work forward from there... If your goal is to be more physically active and get into a fitness routine, start by adding 20 minutes three times a week. Once that becomes more natural, you can add more time or more days. Working toward any goal requires patience, hard work, and dedication. You have to be willing to put in the work to reach the end result.

2. Break it Down

So, you want to lose 50 lbs. this year? When do you want to lose it by? June? December? Set a date so you have something to measure.

Next, break things down into quarterly, monthly, and weekly tasks to know what you have to do to get to where you want to be. Start with your bigger, long-term goals, and make sure you have a clear, concise idea of what you want. Then you can begin to break those goals into smaller pieces.

For example, if you want to lose 50 lbs. by next December, you’re looking at only 1 lb. per week, but if you want the extra weight gone by June, that number doubles. If you have shorter-term goals, start by breaking those into monthly and weekly tasks so that you can measure your progress. This will keep your motivation up every time you complete something, and it also makes things MEASURABLE so that you can stay on track.

3. Keep a List

Make a list of your top 10 goals for this year.

By keeping this list, you can check them off as you accomplish them. This will motivate you to move on to the next thing on your list and keep the momentum up. Taking a minute every day to look over your goals and reflect on your progress, taking into account both the positive and the negative, will help you stay honest.

4. Be Accountable

This isn’t going to work if you can’t hold yourself accountable.

The best way to do that is to enlist a partner or buddy to keep you honest. It can be your spouse, your best friend, or even your kids.

Make sure they know what your goals are and how you plan to achieve them so they can help keep you on track. It’s like having your personal cheerleader. Who doesn’t want that!?

5. Focus on the Feeling

How would you feel if all your dreams come true? That is an amazing feeling, right?

We all know the feeling we get from accomplishing our dreams—you get this sense of accomplishment, peace, relief, love, and a host of other positive emotions. Focus on that and use it to fuel your momentum toward achieving your goals.

By focusing on this, you will attract situations and experiences that will lead you toward that goal. Directing your intentions this way also helps you release the need to know exactly how you will get to your goal while allowing the universe to lead you unexpectedly down the path.

6. Keep it Positive

Focus on what you will do, not what you won’t. Your attitude and how you approach your goals will directly affect the results. Most of the time, negatively phrasing your goals leads you to do more of the things you want to change. Instead, focus on the positive actions of achieving your goals.

7. Hire a Coach or a Trainer

If you just can’t keep the motivation or momentum, try getting a coach to help you.

Most gyms offer free or inexpensive personal training sessions. This can offer a more personalized, more intense workout to really help you meet your fitness goals.

If your goal is related to money, hire a money coach! They can really help you hammer out a plan to get your finances where you want them; plus, they’ll keep you accountable.

Don’t let a few missteps derail you for good. Everyone has a bad day here or there, but stick with it, and you’ll get where you want to be.

If you’ve gotten a little off track, take a deep breath, and start things up again. Most changes take at least 30-days to become regular habits and to turn into a rhythm—so stick with it!

You can do this!

Until next time – Keep It Simple!