Ah, the start of a new year! A time for us all to reflect on the past and make resolutions for the future. It’s a great idea in theory—but let’s face it, we’ve all failed at keeping our resolutions in the past. In fact, according to recent studies, only 8% of people actually keep their New Year’s resolutions.
If you truly want to manifest meaningful change in your life this year, then make the effort to take some time and reflect deeply upon what it is that you would like to accomplish and commit yourself fully; make those goals a reality!
Follow our guide to help you create more purposeful resolutions that work to make sure your resolution is achievable:
1. Take Stock and Reflect
Take a look back at last year's resolutions, goals, achievements, and failures. Think about what's working and not working in your life right now. What changes do you want to make to get to your goals? What would you like to achieve? Write it down and make a list. It's ok to keep it broad for now, but we will need to get more specific to make it achievable.
2. Get Specific
The key to making successful resolutions is specificity. Instead of simply setting a broad goal such as 'lose weight' or 'be healthier', think about all the small details that go into it - what's an achievable amount of weight you want to lose? If your goal is to reduce stress, figure out where exactly in your life you need relief and how will you manage it. If your goal is to save money, be specific about how much you want to save and for what purpose. So for example, you might want to save for a down payment on a house or a vacation. Maybe you want to reduce your debt or grow your net worth by 10%. By being specific so you can start to create a realistic plan to get you to where you want to be.
3. Break it Down and Create a Plan
Break down your goals by creating a plan of how you will get there and add timelines. Think about how you will achieve these goals, what could you do to help you get there? Think about what barriers you will need to unblock to make it easier to achieve your goals.
So for example, if you want to lose 20 lbs, break that down into how you will lose weight, set a list of things you will change to help you get to your goal.
Here's an example of what that could look like this:
Goal: I want to lose 20 pounds by end of the year.
Things I will do to achieve this goal:
Eat out less, cook 3 healthy meals at home by meal planning
Eat less meat by having two vegetarian days per week
Move more by taking 20-minute walks every day
Create more strength by joining a HIIT gym class, hiring a personal trainer, or using a fitness app
Reduce my sugar intake by not having any more soda at home, reducing the amount of sugar I add to my coffee, or drinking more water.
4. Track Your Progress
By tracking your progress, you can stay motivated and accountable when things get tough or you feel like giving up. You'll be able to look back and remember why you started this journey in the first place!
Ways to keep track of progress:
Get a journal and jot it down.
Use an excel or Google sheets to develop a tracker, this works well for budgeting and saving
Download an app! There are so many helpful apps that you can use for almost any goal.
5. Get Some Help
Are you struggling to begin your journey, maybe your having trouble organizing a plan or just sticking to the plan? Don't worry; there are plenty of online resources and professionals available who can help. For instance, if weight loss is your goal, consider hiring a fitness instructor or nutritionist. If it's financial security that you're after, look into getting the assistance of a money coach or advisor. Regardless of what you need guidance with – don’t be afraid to reach out for assistance!
It's easy enough to make empty promises about our future selves -but if you want real change, then you need a resolution with a purpose! Instead of making New Year's resolutions that are destined for failure from the start, try following these tips so that 2021 can be your most successful year yet!
Good luck and have fun! :)
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