Keeping new Years Resolutions Tips for Achieving your Goals
The personal decisions made by men and women at the beginning of the year to improve on certain aspects of their lives or to stop doing certain things that are unproductive, is often seen as a step in the right direction. These decisions - usually transformed into goals - give purpose and meaning to the individual and makes the new year a year to look forward to. Sometimes however, half way into the year, these goals become unimportant to the individual because they are either forgotten or the individual lacks the interest or commitment to see them through.
This should not always be the case as resolutions should not be taken lightly or made just for the sake of them. To help overcome certain distractions along the way, here are some tips for achieving your goals in the New year:
Be determined:
This will undoubtedly be the manner to adopt when dealing with your goals. Approach the matter of your New Year’s resolutions with firmness and a fixed purpose. You should find it comfortable telling yourself that it is worth all the effort you can put into it. Once you have seen its importance, you should then be committed to achieving those goals. Commitment will require dedication. Be enthusiastic.
Trim your list:
You may have written down all that you hope to accomplish in a diary or paper already, but at this point, it will not be a very bad idea to revisit it once more. Look to see how long the list you have made is, and, if it is too long, consider trimming it down a little. A short list of goals would usually appear attainable at first glance, whilst at first glance, a longer list would seem overwhelming. Pick out the more important goals and work on those first then gradually start giving room for the others as your comfort level increases. It makes it easier this way.
Make your goals realistic:
The importance of having realistic and obtainable goals cannot be overemphasized. Go through your resolutions and make certain your goals will not, in one way or the other, put excessive demands on your emotional, physical or financial health in your attempt to achieve them. This is because you hope for best results. Most people believe that one year’s resolution should not be carried over into the following year, so, if you have goals that will demand a lot, think of alternative ways you can take to achieve them, if there are none, then, do not make them this year’s resolutions. Hopefully, things may seem better next year and the possibility of achieving them will be greater then. Do not go too hard on yourself; there are certain things that may seem beyond your control. Take things easy, making achievable goals instead.
Plan:
For each goal, devise a plan of action(s) which will lead to your achieving it and use this plan as a guide. You could list them out in steps. Make them as practical as possible by making them appropriate, sensible and effective.
Set individual time frames :
Because your target is to achieve all your goals before, or, by the end the year, you can consider setting a comfortable time frame in which you expect to have reached each goal. For instance, you can decide to say that before the middle of the year, you should have enrolled for financial management classes to help improve your money spending or saving habit.
Setting a time frame will deepen your commitment.
Peruse through your list constantly:
Go through your written list of goals constantly just as a reminder. You can do this either by skimming through it daily, weekly or monthly, as it's convenient for you to.
Seek support:
Although resolutions are usually personal and sometimes intimate, it is okay to involve one or two persons who genuinely care about you and are interested in your progresses. This person(s) may be a very close friend, a partner or a family member. They should stand behind you firmly and give you their support as you aim at achieving these goals - especially if one of such goals was to reform a habit.
Surround yourself with positive and encouraging people.
Be motivated:
A high level of motivation will see you succeed in no time. You could motivate yourself by looking at the benefits you and those dearest to you would derive from the result of your goals met. Let the hope of a good result spur you, now and then. Believe in the ability that you have and that it is sufficient for you. Also, surround yourself with others who are doing the same thing as you and are making good progress. This will boost your morale.
Try again:
If you should falter somewhere along the line, do not be discouraged. You are human and will make mistakes just like everyone else. Pick yourself up instead and start again or continue, with a greater determination. By trying again and again, a positive result is guaranteed at the end.
Making New Year’s resolutions should not go out of fashion. They are helpful and they aim at making lives better.
