It all starts great! We plan to lose the 20lbs, get a gym membership, throw out all of the unhealthy food in our fridge, and declare “I will keep my New Year’s Resolution this year!”. It works for the first month, or so… Then we say, “You know, it’s only one cupcake”, and just like that our careful crafted plan falls apart… Why is it that we self-sabotage our plans for success? We set our New Year’s Resolutions with the best of intentions, but then find ourselves losing sight of our goals part way through the year. Good news is, there are ways to keep up the momentum. Here’s how:
Make the Commitment
Tell your new goal to your friends, or share it on social media. Do whatever you need to do to keep yourself accountable. Sometimes it’s easy to give up on your goals because the only person you’re letting down is yourself. By sharing, not only will you have people keeping you on track, but you’ll have a greater support system that will inspire and encourage you to keep going when it gets difficult.
When we decided to travel abroad, we didn’t tell anyone until after we had sold all of our things and ended our lease. Throughout that process, we were continually going through waves of cold feet, and asking ourselves if we should really do it. Making it public opened up the flood gates of love and support from people we didn’t even anticipate. That support is what has kept us motivated even during the times when we look at each other and say “what the hell are we doing?”.
Just Do It!
Our brains are designed to steer us away from things that make us uncomfortable. Whether it’s going to the gym, or starting your own business, don’t think about it and just do it! If you saw you’re going to start tomorrow, or Monday, you’re missing out on the headway of starting today. You could live a life filled with, “I’ll get to it”, or start living the life that you want today. Which are you going to be?
Write your Resolutions Down
I can seriously right an entire post just about this action step. It is that effective. Book after book I’ve read has harped on the importance of writing your goals down. It turns a thought into something tangible, something you can feel, smell, and have. The book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill talks about a state of “burning desire” that is unlocked when you imagine you have already attained a goal that you’re working towards. The book suggests you read your goals every morning when you wake up, and every night before you go to sleep. That will definitely make you think twice about eating that cupcake. 😛
I hope this helps you reach all of your goals this year and may your year be filled with adventure, love, and happiness!
What are your resolutions for the New Year? Comment below!