Keeping up With Your New Year's Resolutions
We’re over a week into the new year and many of those that set resolutions at the beginning of the month may be finding themselves starting to waver on their goals. If you’re finding yourself in this position, or have already faltered, don’t stress! Here are some tips to motivate yourself to stay focused on your goals and to make the most of 2022.
Adopt the “SMART” Method
The “SMART” method stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Take time to reflect on your goals and aspirations and why they are important to you. An example of implementing the “SMART” method may be to run a marathon this year. If that’s your goal, using the “SMART” method to achieve it would be broken down like this:
- Specific: I’m going to run X times a week to get ready for the marathon
- Measurable: I will follow a running app/program to keep me on track
- Achievable: I’m healthy and have 6 months to prepare for the marathon
- Relevant: I want to become stronger and more fit, and the marathon will be a good motivator
- Time-bound: I’m signed up for a marathon 6 months from now
Write down your goals
People that write down their goals are more likely to achieve them, so if you haven’t already, put pen to paper and write down your new year’s resolutions. An article in Forbes states that “Vividly describing your goals in written form is strongly associated with goal success, and people who very vividly describe or picture their goals are anywhere from 1.2 to 1.4 times more likely to successfully accomplish their goals.” So, write down your goal(s) and keep them in a place you’ll see daily.
Set an intention
For some people, setting specific goals or resolutions doesn’t work for them. If resolutions feel like self-punishment, or you find your inner voice telling that you failed if you falter from your goals, then setting an intention for the year may be a better, more gentle, route. Your intention will set the direction you’d like to move towards in the upcoming year and doesn’t require big life changes.