How to stick to your New Year’s targets and be successful?
With the New Year around the corner, most of us are reminiscing on little pieces of the year behind us…I bet you’ve been thinking about some of those things you want to IMPROVE in months to come. Right?
It’s perfectly natural to have New Year’s resolutions! It’s a universal time to look backward…
But I’ll let you in on a secret! …You should really be calling these resolutions New Year targets.
Although making targets for the upcoming year is normal (even universal), it’s just as normal to lose motivation a couple weeks in. So much for the symbolism of a new year! Apparently, only 8% of all resolutions people make for the start of the New Year actually end up happening.
That’s where targeting comes in.
If you’re dedicated to succeed this year, whatever your targets, take a look at these tips to help you along the way. Because, yes, it WILL be hard. If it were easy everyone would do it, right? So buckle up, take note of these tricks, and get to work in 2019!
- Pick just one or two targets
One of the most common traps people fall into is crafting HUGE lists of targets they want to achieve. Even the most ambitious people are still setting unreasonable goals for the sheer weight of it all, which leads to failure. That simple.
You can’t start remodeling your home and your vacation pad at the same time, for example. You’ll just end up overwhelmed, and you are more likely to make mistakes or overspend your budget. The same goes for all your other targets…trying to achieve seven huge things at the same time is going to mean you’ll muck it up! Instead, try to focus on one or two main targets that you know are realistically possible.
- Know where to start
Choose your targets for the right reasons! Imagine starting to remodel your living room because your mother-in-law said something funny about your layout. That doesn’t sound right, does it? And don’t get into things just because they’re trendy, or because your family and friends are pushing you to do so. Motivation is the most important thing in achieving anything, so you have to be motivated for the RIGHT reasons. Don’t make it your target to lose weight, for example, just because your celebrity crush described the ideal body as…well, not yours.
- Find an accountability buddy
Doing challenging things is always easier with the right people beside you. If you can, find somebody from your home or work crew who has the same or similar targets, and use each other to stay motivated! If you want to quit smoking, chances are you’ll be much more into it if your coworker, relative or close friend does it with you. You can compare experiences, bring each other up out of the mood slumps, and talk each other out of giving up!
- Reward yourself
It’s always easier to do something if you know that, at the end of your struggling, you will have something to celebrate. Reaching your goal is reward in itself, but you can also divide your targets into smaller steps and promise yourself some small prizes at the end of each! Those rewards are even more important, because they keep you pushing through even when you don’t feel like it!! So, at the end of your new language course, treat yourself with that new kitchen that you always wanted, or buy that plane ticket that you always planned to.
- Leverage the habits you ALREADY have
This strategy is one of the most successful…if you want to get a new habit into its groove, you can actually leverage your existing habits. For example, if your target is to floss more, make sure you do it before brushing your teeth—your “already existing” habit (let’s hope)! With a little time, your new target habit will be tied to your already existing one, which increases the chances of it becoming a success!
No matter what targets you set for yourself in the New Year, remember not to be too harsh on yourself. Even failure is a part of the process sometimes!
In the words of Winston Churchill “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” (Clever guy!)
To read more, check this article out.
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