Incredibly, over 70 percent of us keep our New Year’s resolutions only one week, reports Health magazine, so if you made a resolution, this is a critical week.
The good news is that it’s not too late to ensure your resolution’s success. These two resolution-saving tips go deeper than the “just do it” mentality and will keep you from beating yourself up over unmet goals by maintaining your resolutions all year long.
Set Small Goals
The secret to reaching your large goals is to set small goals along the way to ensure success, allowing motivation to take root.
Let’s say exercising is your resolution. Walking is excellent exercise, so vow that five days a week you will simply walk to the end of your driveway and back (or something similar). No marathons allowed. Sounds achievable, doesn’t it? You’ll find yourself more likely to heed an alarm clock when it goes off a mere five minutes earlier than if it calls you to action an unacceptable hour earlier than before.
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This small goal theory works because it establishes the desired habit and restores hope. It invites success. Don’t look at your end goal of climbing the whole mountain or losing the full 30 pounds. Focus instead on your small but vital first step.
Approaching your goals this way not only makes them more achievable but cultivates a deeper understanding of yourself that will serve you in all areas of life.
Set Specific Goals
Setting small goals doesn’t mean an anything goes ticket to doing the least possible and still taking credit for being on a program. Part of the secret to success lies in being specific when making a resolution. Vague goals are a sure ticket to failure.
Catch yourself before you set self-sabotaging goals such as do more exercise, or lose weight, or take more time to play. Pin down the specifics as to exactly what your resolution is, when your resolution is going to happen, where your resolution is going to happen, and how your resolution is going to happen.
That way, it will happen.
