Forget Your New Year’s Resolution And Do This Instead
By: Tiffany Hoxie
Tags: Personal Development, Goal Setting, Self Improvement, Goals, Motivation

We are weeks away from the New Year and you may already be thinking about that inevitable question, “what is my New Year’s resolution?” To be completely honest, I think it’s time to ditch that question and the idea altogether. By mid-February, the glamour of the ball drop, champagne, and glitz will be weeks behind us, and most likely, we’ll discover not much has changed.

One particular study uncovered that only 19 percent of people keep their resolutions, and most others were settled back in their old ways within just a few weeks. Why? Why do we fail? I think the answer is this. Change is hard. The habits we need to instill to create change in our lives can be tedious, we can’t seem to stay motivated, and when stress takes a toll on us we tend to give up thinking that change is even possible.

In place of a resolution, this is what we all should be doing instead — goal setting. It isn’t an act or a one-time occurrence at the beginning of the year either. It is a habit that needs to be ingrained in our lives as profound and concrete as brushing our teeth. Goal setting needs to become part of what we do.

Setting the right goals can be life-changing. It can help us achieve our financial goals, our health goals, and can impact our relationships.

Let’s start with the question. “How can we make our goals come to fruition?” We must be willing to peel ourselves away from our comfort zones, find motivation deep within, and make it happen. The truth is we are all capable of change, but we have to willing to participate. Half the battle is showing up for yourself.

Here are ten strategies to get you started.

1.Create Habits That Will Support Your Goals

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It may sound harsh, but you will not accomplish your goals unless you have the right habits instilled in your day-to-day activities. For example, if you want to lose weight, you must be willing to move your body and give yourself the proper nutrition to reach that goal. Don’t make your goal harder to achieve by skipping over the habits you must partake in.

2. Don’t Settle For The Comfortable Choice

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The hours outside of your 9–5 schedule are critical. It’s these unseen hours that can make all the difference. The easy choice is to say, “I don’t have time.” When it comes to your goals, you have to be willing to make the time. It doesn’t do you any favors to ignore your goals so that you can hit the couch every night and check out with social media or television. While I am all for balancing business and pleasure, we must be willing to go the extra mile. Learn to become more disciplined and intentional with your actions.

3. Get More Specific With Your Action Steps

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The action plan you create for your goals is critical. Writing the goal down is only a small step to making the goal come to fruition. You will need to know how you will achieve your goal, and the more specific you can be, the better off you will be. Get fired up with a deliberate action plan! Think about the steps you will need to take to achieve your goal and then take massive action.

4. Learn To Enjoy The Process

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Expect that things will not happen overnight. There will be plenty of times you will see little to no movement in your goals. Trust that you are headed in the right direction and learn not to give up. Failure is to be expected. If you begin to struggle, learn to show up for yourself anyway. Consistency is key.

5. Take Time To Reflect and Celebrate

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Each step you take brings you closer to accomplishing your bigger goal. Take time to acknowledge your accomplishments along the way. Doing so can give you the energy to keep going. Celebrate those small wins; they are critical to your success.

6. Remember Why

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Getting started with a new goal can be exciting and invigorating. However, after a few shorts months or even a few weeks, that new shiny goal can become dreadful and nagging. Once the excitement wears off, you have to attach yourself to how you will keep going. This moment is where the importance of your “why” comes into play. Remind yourself why you started your goal in the first place. How will your life look different once you have accomplished your goals? Will it improve your health? Will it bring you closer to financial freedom? Envision what it will look like when you have reached your goal and carry that vision with you when you want to give up.

7. Emulate The People Who Have Already Achieved Your Goal

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Take some time to understand the process other people have used to accomplish the goal you have set for yourself. The key is to emulate, but not compare. There is a huge difference. Let me give you an example. I look up to a lot of writers who have several books published. I study them. I instill the same habits they do. I listen to their advice. I do not mope about or compare myself to them. That would defeat the whole purpose. Follow and connect with people who make you want to be better, not people who make you want to curl up in a ball with regret and sadness that you are not doing as well as they are.

8. Find A Team, Friend Or Partner To Hold You Accountable

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Finding the strength to make our dreams and goals materialize can be draining. It is hard to stay motivated all the time. Find other people who share the same mindset or goals as you do. This habit can help put your goals into overdrive and can add that extra spark when you feel like giving up. Together, we win.

9. Remember, These Are Your Goals

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The journey with your goals is a personal venture. Goal setting is flexible. It’s You vs. You, don’t lose sight of that. All you need to worry about is showing up and being better than you were yesterday.

10. Know You Are Doing Better Than You Think You Are

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No matter how little or how much you accomplish each day, remind yourself you are enough. Placing shame on yourself when you face setbacks is not doing yourself any favors. You are worthy of praise and recognition.