Well, it’s a few days into 2018, have you decided your goals for the year?
365 days is a lengthy amount of time when you’re thinking of your year-end goals. Are your goals short-term, long-term or, maybe, indefinite? Whatever your goals may be, you’ll need to grapple with the everyday hustle of making them stick. Keep in the back of your mind that it is a journey, not an instant fix. It is rare that change will happen overnight, and that’s okay.
By incorporating these helpful tips into your journey, you may find that keeping your goals in check can be easier than it seems:
- Recognize your intention. Remember why you’ve chosen this as one of your goals. What was your motivation? What will you feel when you’ve accomplished this? Did you give it your best effort today?
- Continue to build. Sometimes starting with small changes can reduce any feeling of being overwhelmed. For example, if you immediately cut out caffeine from your everyday routine, you might feel the effects of a “crash” more intensely. Gradually make small changes (say a large coffee to a medium, then to small) and notice how you react to each change.
- Resist the easy way out. Quick fixes will never work. Even worse, they’ll steal your thunder when it ultimately doesn’t work out. Success takes time, and with time comes appreciation.
- Remember your values. Reflecting on your values will encourage you to stay on track. Each time you feel a bit pessimistic, steer your mind towards the positive feelings that have come from reaching for this goal. In time, you’ll have overpowered the doubts with feelings of achievement and satisfaction.
- Make a list. Communicating and recording your goals is a great motivator to follow-through. If you’ve told someone about the goal you’re striving towards, you’re more likely to complete them. Compiling a list and using benchmarks are ways to motivate yourself to get to the next step.
However many goals (and whatever they may be) that you’ve set for yourself this year, you can do it! Maintain that laser-sharp focus as you push through the beginning stages of figuring out how you’re going to get to the next step. And remember, the journey starts with you – take that first step today.