It’s that time weird time of the year where we reflect: reflect on all the things we were proud to accomplish, and all the things we… well, didn’t accomplish. This often leads to us making some new promises to our selves: New Years Resolutions. The new year ushers in this feeling of excitement. A clean slate if you will. “New Year New Me” Right?
but, often times, you find that inspiration slowly starts to fade. What was once hardcore dedication slowly turns apathy and even… *gulp* laziness. So how do you turn that goal into a habit that lasts the entire year, or even longer?
Well the key is simple: KEEP YOURSELF MOTIVATED.
But wait, isn’t that the problem you’re struggling with? *shake your head yes*
Don’t worry I won’t leave you hanging. Let’s go through the step by step process of making goals, reevaluating, and keeping yourself motivated.
(BUT FIRST!)
THE GOAL SETTING MIDSET:
ACCEPT WHERE YOU ARE, AND THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU’RE GOING TO TAKE YOURSELF WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.
*Before you do any goal setting, it’s important to NOTE and RECORD where you’re starting. Look at your current sales, weight, savings, places you’ve gone, books you’ve read, whatever it is you want to improve and write down where you’re currently at. When you’re done. Put it in a safe place (You’ll need it later)
**Get a piece of paper, so you can WRITE down your goals.
1. IDENTIFY your overall goal.
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Example: “Lose 30 pounds”
2. DEFINE the smaller things you need to do to get to your overall goal
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Example: “Workout 5 times per week, drink a gallon of water a day, eat clean”
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You may need to break down your “smaller goals” to “even smaller goals” if you already know you struggle with something
3. ANTICIPATE and COUNTERACT the potential road blocks that might hinder or slow down your progress
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Example: If you struggle to maintain a workout regimen or habit related goal, then set up accountability guards. For example, if you miss a workout, then you pay your spouse or best friend $10. Or, the next day, you workout twice to make up for this missed workout to quickly get you back on track.
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The goal is to figure out where you’re most likely to get DISCOURAGED, and come up with a plan to quickly overcome and/or make up for it.
4. RUN with it.
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Now that you have you goals and sub goals set, it’s time to take 90 days to commit to the plan you have set. During this 90 days you are making a COMMITMENT: You will NOT give up, you will thrive, and you will transform.
5. RE-EVALUATE, RINSE, AND REPEAT
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Remember that paper you wrote down your beginning figures on? Now that you’ve gone 90 days, it’s time to track record you progress. Did you see growth? If so, then make your goals more challenging or keep going with what you’re doing, rinse and repeat step 4. Did you see regression? If so then think back to where you stumbled, come up with a plan to overcome it, rinse and repeat step 4.
The important thing is for you to stay in tune with your goals. I don’t want you to just set goals and hope they fall in your lap, forget about them until the NEXT New Year comes a long. That’s what led to last failed resolution. Make a declaration to yourself that this time, you’re going to accomplish your goal: that no mater what roadblock you hit, you won’t stop trying. It might not be easy, but if it’s something you really want, then it is worth it.
BONUS:
Here are a few things to keep in mind during the journey over the next few days
Roam wasn’t built in a day.
It’s SO cliche, I know; but, it holds a lot of truth. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will your perfect body, booming sales, or the ,’s in your savings account. Embrace the journey and the destination will follow.
It takes TIME
This piggy backs off the first point. Don’t get discouraged if you aren’t seeing results after the first two or three weeks. statistics show that it takes 90 days to not only make something a habit, but also see results.
Chances are you will fail
(Hold up sidney, your supposed to be positive) I am, I am. We aren’t perfect. We make mistakes and with our busy hectic lives sometimes things just don’t go our way. Does that mean you give up? OF COURSE NOT! You keep going! Miss that workout? Do two the next day. Didn’t reach you sales goal this week? Knock it out of the park next week.
Embrace The Small Victories
As stated before, setting out to attain goals is a journey. A journey that will have it’s ups and it’s downs. So it’s important that you give yourself credit, where credit is due? Lost 5 instead of 7? Celebrate! Got 10 new followers? Celebrate!
Life is what you make of it. So if something happens toward the direction you’re headed, then celebrate!
The goal is not to be perfect, but rather have a more enjoyable experience with goal setting.
