Every year you make a resolution (or resolutions) and somehow you never follow through. What is the trick to making a resolution and sticking to it? Read on if you’re a big dreamer with no follow-through.
1. Make a Choice and Write It down.
If you take the time to write down your goals, why you want to achieve them, and how you are going to go about achieving them, you will have a much better chance of actually following through on them. Instead of having a list of 10 resolutions, stop being indecisive and unrealistic; chose one or two and make those your goals.
You should also write down your resolution(s) and put it somewhere you will see it everyday.
A friend of mine made a resolution to save money for a trip to Paris. She put a bank right near her door so every morning and every time she entered or left her room, she saw it. She would deposit extra coins or money into the bank each day until she had enough spending money to head to Paris.
If you keep your goal in sight and in mind, you are much more likely to achieve it than if you write it down in a notebook and forget about it two days later.
2. Make a Joint Resolution.
Making a resolution with a friend or family member is a great way to help you to stick to your goals. If you have another person pushing you, supporting you, and helping you to get to your goal, you are more likely to succeed.
You will also feel more responsible for completing the goal if it involves helping someone else achieve their goal as well.
If you and a friend plan to lose weight together, but you decide you don’t want to go to the gym, you’re not only letting down yourself, but your friend too.
Your friend will remind you each day of why you set the goal in the first place and why you both want to achieve it.
3. Keep Them Realistic.
Like I said before, don’t write a list of 10 resolutions and expect to fulfill every goal. You are only setting yourself up for failure and disappointment if you set too many goals at once.
Choose one or two major resolutions and stick to them. It will be a lot easier to map out your plan for achieving one or two goals, rather than 10 or 20 goals.
Don’t make goals that you cannot achieve either. If you don’t have a job and your resolution is to buy a house in a month, you are obviously setting your goals too high. Maybe focus on getting the job first (or whatever) and THEN going for the bigger goal.
4. Keep a Calendar, Set a Date.
If you make the effort and plan out the course of your goal, you will increase your probability of success.
Pick up a new 2011 calendar and get to work. Set a goal for the end of each month so you know what to do throughout the month to get to that point. If you know you were supposed to have a job interview by March 31st, then you should probably start sending out job applications in February.
Make sure each month is reasonable; if need be, allow yourself the ENTIRE YEAR to achieve your goal so you will have ample time to make it happen.
If you rush yourself and put up an expiration date three months after you start, you are not giving yourself a real chance at success.
I know it is tempting to jump ahead of yourself, especially if you are impatient, but realize nothing comes without hard work and a lot of time. Don’t try and compete with others; the only person you are competing against is yourself. If a friend or someone you know has achieved your goal already for themselves, don’t try and push yourself to achieve it in the same amount of time.
Go at your own pace and it will pay off in the end.
5. Create a Reminder.
The best way to achieve a goal is to keep that goal in front of your face where you cannot avoid it.
Whether this means writing it down on lime green poster board, putting a picture of what you want on the dashboard of your car, or getting a wristband printed with your goal written across it, do whatever it takes to keep that goal in mind.
When I want something, I make a list of why I want it. Then I print out a picture of what it is I want, tape it to my list of reasons, and put it on my mirror. Every day I see the list and the picture and it reminds me not only of my goal, but why I want to achieve it.
Every time I look in the mirror, not only do I see my goal, but I see myself AND my goal. I see the two coming together and it helps to push me every day toward whatever it is I am working for.
Do the same for yourself; if you invest enough time and energy into yourself and what it is you REALLY want, there is no limit to your success.
