New Year, New Me

A common practice in our culture is to set radical life changes during the New Year. “This year I’ll go to the gym,” “This year I’m gonna read 50 books,” etc. Ask around and you’ll find that more than half of all people don’t end up sticking with their New Year’s resolutions. That’s because most goals require serious effort and commitment and people usually try to rush the change.

Now I don’t think we should totally abolish New Year's resolutions; in fact, I think it’s great to set goals to better ourselves. But this article is meant to inform you how to properly set goals and follow through with them.

First, you need to believe in yourself. It’s not out of your reach to start eating healthier or quit smoking or drinking, for example. But it all starts with recognizing that this change will only come with time and things won’t happen in one day or even a week. One thing that helps me psyche myself into doing difficult things is positive affirmations. Find time to tell yourself that you are capable, and that you are strong, as a way to build your own self-confidence.

Second, you need to set a course of action. You can’t set a goal and not know how to get there. Write down your goals with specific steps that you will take to achieve them. For example, if I wanted to eat healthier, I would start by creating a grocery list of “healthier” alternatives to foods I like to eat.

What are you waiting for, start today! The reason most people don’t commit to their goals is because they don’t even start. Common excuses are, “Oh I’ll do it on Monday.” NO YOU WON'T! If you really want it, you need to get after it as soon as possible. Consistency is key, so make sure you’re setting aside time throughout your day to work on accomplishing your goals.

But hey, no one’s perfect. There will be days where you don’t feel like getting up and getting after it, or you could really use some ice cream. Like I said, the change will come with time and things won’t happen in one day. But remember, it’s not about being perfect everyday, it’s about progress. If you find yourself stuck and don’t notice any changes immediately, look back and see that you are better than the person you were yesterday. Keep reminding yourself why you started and remind yourself of the end goal to keep you motivated.