2016 Jan 1
Yes, it’s that time of the year again, people are whipping out their planners and calendars; getting ready with their goals for the new year to come. But what if you’re one of those people? The large majority who tend to lose interest after the first week?
Not to worry, here are a couple of tips to make sure you stick to your goals for 2021!
Start Small
Don’t jump into the big stuff straight away! Try to keep your goals short and sweet. Chances are you’re more likely to be motivated to achieve them. Once you start getting into the habit of achieving the smaller goals you can then amp up the difficulty. Realism is of utmost importance, don’t try to leapfrog into things that are unattainable, also make sure the limits are defined, some things when overdone can be hazardous to one’s health, e.g. Make sure it is gradual as to not lose interest!
Form a rewards system that actually works!
The issue with the rewards system is that it tends to be counterproductive at times. If you’re trying to lay off demerit goods for the new year, rewarding yourself after a period of abstinence with the very thing you were abstaining from may tend to be self-defeating. Rather, try to reward yourself with material things you like e.g. a new pair of shoes or some sunglasses (note this is unlikely to work if you’re trying to work off being a shopaholic.) This essentially allows you to stay motivated and actually look forward to achieving your goals due to the incentive of rewards.
Grab a partner
It is scientifically proven that having a friend with you is 70% more likely to increase the longevity of your motivation. However, there is another aspect to partnering. You can keep each other in check. When you’re attempting something on your own, it’s easy to be lenient and give yourself days off for no reason. But a partner will see through that, and keep you on your toes, always moving forward. The competitive aspect will also be useful; And if he or she is doing better than you, don’t let that demotivate you. Awaken your competitive instincts and catch up!
Be Optimistic!
This is the most important part of ensuring you actually meet your goals. It is likely that during the process of achieving your goals there will be minor failures, typically this is usual for anything in life and If you choose to focus on the negative, you are much more likely to give up than if you manage to always focus on the progress you do make, instead of the setbacks. If you are a generally pessimistic person; you can trick yourself into becoming more positive by always making a big deal out of progress. Handwriting huge check marks next to every day you managed to stick to your goals or mini-celebrating every minor milestone can be reminders to keep your focus where it should be.
Prepare in advance
Make sure your resolutions are well thought out and have a clear motive behind them. Random drunken resolutions made at a New Year’s Eve party are unlikely to be substantial, make sure planning for your resolutions start well in advance as well as a clearly set out plan and structure. Remember, the time and effort put into the planning process act as a motivator as everything is clearly set out. So don’t try to be lazy and take short cuts!
