2015 is just around the corner and you know what that
means...time to pull out your New Year’s resolutions lists from the last five years,
and write them all down for your 2015 list. If you’re one of the many who are
gathering forgotten lists from New Year’s Eve’s past, don’t be discouraged, you
are not alone and 2015 can finally be the year that everything changes.
How to Finally Complete Your New Year’s Resolutions
Step 1
Set realistic
goals. We would all love to stop world hunger, and end war in the Middle
East, but as good as our intentions are, we have to be at least a little bit
realistic. If one of your goals was to work out every day, 6 days a week for one
hour, and you haven’t stepped foot in a gym for almost a year, you most likely
will be setting yourself up for failure, potentially losing motivation all
together.
Try starting off with something a little less drastic like,
“I want to work out at least twice a week for a minimum of 20 minutes.” This
will allow you time to adjust and develop a comfortable pattern, and keep you
motivated as it is a more attainable goal. Dream big, but remember, Rome wasn’t
built in a day.
Step 2
Take baby
steps and build. Following the realistic goal setting step, to guarantee a higher
success rate in accomplishing your goals, for every big goal, make small
milestone goals. For example, if your goal is to save up $5000 by the end
of the year, make a baby step goal of putting away $208 per bi-weekly paycheck,
for three months. By being specific and making your goals in small baby steps,
you can feel a sense of accomplishment each time you reach a milestone and have
motivation to continue on.
So remember, for every big goal, make 1-3 small milestone
goals to help you stay on track to complete your goals by the end of the year.
Step 3
Set Deadlines.
Sometimes with the start of a new year, that can make us think that we have ALL
year to complete our resolutions. Put yourself on a time clock that way you don’t
become lazy by thinking, “oh, I have all year.” Whether it’s a birthday, graduation
or anniversary, set dates to complete your goals by, and follow the “milestone method”
to help you stay on track.
Step 4
Get an
accountability partner. Use the buddy system! By telling a friend, or even your
Facebook or YouTube fans about your New Year’s resolution goals, this can help
you feel more accountability and pressure to keep your word. Even blogging your
progress throughout the year can help you stay focused and motivated to
complete your tasks.
Whatever your method, spread the word about the goals you
are trying to accomplish, so you can not only feel accountability to complete
them, but your family, friends and fans alike can help support you on your
journey. Who knows, they may even want to join you!
Step 5
Don’t be so
hard on yourself. The great thing about following the baby step/milestone
method is that if you don’t reach your first milestone, it’s only been a few
weeks or months, and you still have time to reach your goals. Don’t beat
yourself up! Instead, simply readjust your goals. If your goal was to lose 50
pounds by June, and you only lost 5 pounds in January, either plan to try and
lose 15 pounds in February, or change your main goal from 50 pounds to 35
pounds. It’s okay to change your plans! It’s better to continue to try and lose
the weight, instead of becoming discouraged and giving up all together.
Step 6
Reward
yourself. Besides not beating yourself up when you don’t reach a milestone,
remember to reward yourself when you do! For every small milestone you
complete, be sure to do something special for yourself. If you reach your first
milestone weight loss goal, reward yourself with new gym shoes, or if your goal
was to read five books in one month, reward yourself with a shopping spree at
Barnes & Noble.
Whatever it is that makes you happy, treat yourself and besides
your sense of accomplishment, you’ll feel even more motivated to continue so
you can get your next reward!
Step 7
Enjoy the
ride! Finally, fulfilling your New Year’s resolution goals does not have to
be some stressful event causing you sleepless nights all year. Make it fun! It
is always exciting to try something new, or change something in your life. Get
caught up in the excitement, workout with a friend, start a blog to record your
journey, or share funny videos of your progress on YouTube. Whichever you
choose, enjoy the ride to self-improvement and to finally reaching your goals.