People love the idea of a new beginning, which is why annually, just before the New Year, resolutions are put in place with the hope that new goals can be reached and a better understanding of life can be formed. Resolutions are great motivational tactics to help put things into motion, but they are also a little intimidating. They are promises made to ourselves that can feeling binding and contractual because they are tied to a very personal longing to be a better person. Many resolutions get set to the wayside because of busyness, lack of commitment, or even fear. Don't let your ambitions escape you for any of these reasons. Here are a couple of common goals people make for themselves in the New Year and a few tips on how you can achieve them.
Getting Healthy
Whether your plan includes losing weight, gaining muscle, drinking more water or even quitting smoking, you must remember to do it gradually. If you're cutting something routine out of your life, the withdrawals you're bound to suffer will surely challenge your commitment. Begin slowly, making reasonable weekly goals for yourself. If you plateau at any point, keep steady and make adjustments to give you some leeway until your next weekly goal. While it's important to give yourself room for error, you mustn't allow too much flexibility. Your goal is progress, so the key here is to make a sincere and conscious effort so you can see real results by the end of the next year.
Saving Money
Imagining what a little extra money could do for you is all the encouragement you need to save. What will you put it towards? For some, that may be taking an overdue vacation, paying off bills, buying something frivolous or just building a rainy day fund. You might have to give up some unnecessary luxuries and replacing them with new, cheaper alternatives; making coffee instead of buying it and planning your meals at home instead of eating out. Keeping your objective in mind makes saving a lot easier to digest. Print out pictures or make notes to put up all around your home. Use a piggy bank for any extra change in your pocket at the end of the day. Keep reminding yourself of what's at stake.
Staying the Course
The best way to fulfill a resolution is to start off slow; making immediate drastic changes to your lifestyle will no doubt end in failure. Reward yourself every step of the way and keep moving. Communicate your goals with friends and family, so they bring them up from time to time, reminding you when you may have forgotten or lost steam. Find a common goal with someone else and pursue it together. Having a physical motivator is nearly impossible to ignore. Keep a journal with your goals inside, report your progress, daily, weekly or monthly and reward yourself after periods of time with the opportunity to splurge.
Credit : Asia Fujikake
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