In one of our last posts, we talked about questions that’d help you have a good reflection of the past year before making a list of New Year’s resolutions. I am sure you have got your list ready, so today, we are going to look at how to stick to those goals and fulfill them in the coming year. Grab your list and let’s go.
Review And Narrow Down
Take a look at your list of resolutions now. How long is it? Are there more than 5 items on your wish list? Prioritize which are the most important to you. Think about them carefully: do you work full time and will your working hours be problematic for your goal achievement? How much time will you need to commit to each one of them? Focus on the quality and not the quantity. Pick a couple and concentrate on them. Once you have fulfilled them, you can move on to the next ones.
Stick It On The Wall
Prepare a 30-day calendar and stick it on the wall. Include your goal as the headline. Write down if you have achieved your task daily. What did you do to fulfill it that day? Use the calendar as your motivation and inspiration.
Pair Up With A Buddy/ Find your Perfect Key
It takes two to tango. When you do things together with a friend or colleague, not only do you bond more closely, you also have a higher chance of succeeding in a mutual goal. Perhaps you both want to learn yoga, so why not join a class together or schedule a time which you can both practice in a park? Synergy is the key to your symphony of success. If you can’t find anyone close to you geographically who shares your determination to become an amateur puppeteer, don’t fret. There are a lot of online communities, facebook groups, apps that help bring likeminded people to achieve their goals together.
A Step Back Is Not A Fall Back
Say for example you want to eat healthier and stick to your juicing routine. But one day you can’t resist that wagyu burger with gruyere cheese you have been craving. That’s not a failure and don’t beat yourself up over it. So you ate a burger. You can alter your diet plan the next few days to make up for it or even hit the gym a few more times to burn the extra calories in the following week. It’s important that you are aware of the step back and move forward. Be kind to yourself and resume your goal again the next day.
Baby-stepping to Your Goal
Small goals are always easier to achieve. Draw a roadmap of how you can ultimately achieve your goals. Cut your ultimate goal into small chunks. It will heighten the chance of succeeding. Track your steps daily, weekly and monthly and realize how far you have come.
Turn it into a New Habit
Scientists say it takes 3 weeks to form a habit. So whatever you do, make it a daily routine and once it becomes a habit, you will find it easier to commit to and include those new habits in your habitat with little effort.
Be In The Moment
When you begin your transformation or changes to fulfill your goal, focus completely on your tasks and not the end game. Enjoy the process. The more you have fun with it and the more you appreciate the moment, the more likely you will look forward to doing it again the next day. Rome was not built in one day. So take it one day at a time and be patient.
Speak Out Loud
Tell your family and friends about your new found goals. The more people you tell, the more you feel you need to achieve and want to win the battle. Competition is part of human nature. Your closest group might also check on you about your progress. Share your accomplishments proudly. Caring and praising make achieving goals and sticking to them a positive experience.
Reward The Wanted
Reward yourself with something you enjoy which doesn’t contradict your resolutions. Maybe you have completed the first level of JLPT test and you need an upgrade on your tablet or Ipad. You can make ‘buy a new Ipad’ your reward, or ‘a trip to Okinawa’ as the ultimate reward when you have completed all the levels. Celebrate your success. Set rewards for all the small goals you want to accomplish and let those small goals create a much bigger picture for you.
Be Kind. Rewind!
This has to be the most important point that most people forget: Be gentle and kind to yourself. Achieving goals are challenging and require perseverance and dedication. But that does not mean you have to suffer. Torturing yourself will not help you achieve anything in life. Improving quality of life is a commitment. Look back periodically on how much progress you have made, how many small goals you have achieved. Remind yourself why you are doing all the things you are doing but also have fun with it. Enjoy every moment in life. The more positive you feel, the easier it is to achieve.
There you have it, a list of tips and tricks on how to succeed your New Year’s Resolution goals this year. I hope whatever it is you want to achieve will come true in 2016.
Remember: You can do it!
Happy New Year!
——
Images courtesy of www.gobankingrates.com, notable.ca, www.fastcompany.com and thefitblog.com
Azure Lorraine is an adventurous food and life lover from sunny Cali. She enjoys writing about anything from food, lifestyle to mindfulness. Follow her scrumptious and vibrant journey around the world on Instagram @azuyuzu852.
