The dawn of a new year fills us with hope and excitement. We feel motivated to make some positive changes in our lives and realize our dreams. Be it to lose those extra pounds, stay fit, land that dream job, study or travel, New Year resolutions offer a great way to start anew. The best way to stick to your New Year resolutions and ensure they do not fizzle out in a few weeks, is to consider the following.
Stick to 3-5 resolutions: New Year resolutions are about transforming dreams to reality. They require planning and goal setting. In our zeal to achieve much, the first mistake we make is start out with too many resolutions. Sticking to 3-5 resolutions is best. That way, there is enough time to concentrate on planning and tracking progress in a few select areas.
Make SMART goals: Each dream that we aspire to needs to be broken down in to smaller goals to be attained over a period of time. In keeping to the popular SMART acronym ensure that the identified goals are Specific, Measurable- by quantity or value, Attainable, Realistic and Time bound. Stick to this plan. Track progress in a chart or log book. There will be many milestones to celebrate as you work toward that ultimate goal.
Declare your New Year resolutions: Usually our resolutions are known only to us, set down in a personal journal However, letting family and friends know about these good intentions brings on an added commitment to realize them. A supportive group can provide moral support when the going gets tough. And cheer you on when each milestone is reached.
Form a buddy system: Another way to achieve your goals is to partner with someone who shares your dream. Whether it is stay fit or become proficient in a skill such as writing or learning a language, a buddy will welcome a mutual arrangement of support and celebration. Regular meetings and supportive phone calls can help to track each others progress.
Visualize your dreams: Visualization is a powerful motivational too that is used to good effect by athletes and other performers. You can use it too, to achieve your resolutions. By imagining the effect of the end result in minute detail, whether it is wearing a dress that is two sizes smaller or working in that dream job, the motivation to stick to your goals and hone those skills, develops further. Visualization prepares you mentally for the positive change that you are trying to bring about in your life.
Reward yourself for good work: Each one of us, whether old or young, welcomes praise and reward for a job well done. So rewards are in order when a significant goal is achieved. Whether it is spending time out with friends after working on a particularly tough assignment or buying that pair of shoes that would contribute to your athletic prowess, the reward should be one that makes you take up that quest with even more determination.
Review and revise when necessary: Sometimes unexpected events or circumstances can intervene and upset the best of plans. You can also lag behind if you set out to achieve too much within a relatively short time. Then again new interests might make your initial goals seem less important. Whatever the reason, the decision to stick with a resolution or revise it depends on your priorities.
Maintenance is important: By sticking to your New Year resolutions, you can reap the rewards that you set out to achieve. Yet once acquired, many skills need to be maintained until the new habits that we cultivated become a part of our new persona. Staying fit or keeping those pounds off is just as important for our self-esteem. This requires staying power.
In conclusion, the best way to stick to your New Year resolutions is to make a serious commitment to bring positive changes to your life. Careful planning, goal setting, execution and monitoring are prerequisites in this process as well as the mental discipline and motivation to stay the course.