The New Year is here and with it comes new expectations. For many of us, this is a time to set goals and new priorities in our lives. Start the year off right by outlining a plan that you can actually stick to!
1. Make your goal(s) realistic: Do not set yourself up for the impossible, this will lead to discouragement right away and hinder any further progress you wish to make.
2. Take baby steps: Remember this is a process, you can’t expect to achieve your goals over-night. Make a chart/graph that tracks your progress and allows you to see how far you’ve come. This will allow you to see your progress every step of the way and make you feel more successful.
3. Positive reinforcement: It feels good to know that you’ve stuck to your goals, even when it’s still a “work in progress”. Remember to always focus on positive aspects of your goal; like why you started in the first place. Place encouraging images or quotes in places that you see daily, so that you’ll always feel motivated.
4. Rest is good: Don’t feel like you’ve taken the day off and now all of your hard work has gone to waste. Your body needs time to do things that we enjoy and resting is one of them. This short break will allow you to appreciate your time off and will prevent you from resenting your goals/aspirations.
5. Reward Yourself: It is good to reward yourself when you’ve seen progress, but make sure this reward is not a step in the wrong direction, defeating the purpose of your goal. Rewards can be as little as glasses of wine, a massage, allowing yourself to have free time to watch that favorite movie/show of yours.
With these steps you’ll be closer every day to achieving your goals and aspirations.