Ringing in the New Year
Jessi Haggerty, RD asked me to write a guest blog on Keeping New Years Resolutions for her Website whatwillyoubee.com. Check it out here…..
One of my favorite cousins is back, posting about how you can keep your New Years resolutions going strong all year long… Not just until February 1st! Check out Heather’s expert advice here!
The new year is the time for new beginnings. With 2013 right around the corner, what do you want to change, improve, develop or start? Be prepared on January 1 to state your New Year Resolutions and stick to them! If your plan is to lose weight, exercise more, eat healthier, spend less money, or build your career or social network, then get started on developing a system for success that will work for you. Resolutions without specific plans usually get pushed to the wayside by the demands of everyday life. Come April, they’re already out the window and down the street! Be prepared to keep your New Year Resolutions in 2013 using these simple tips for seeing them through to 2014.
Be specific: Define the details of your goals and make them measurable. For example, if your goal to is lose weight, how much weight do you want to lose? By when? If your goal is to spend less money and start a savings, how much money do you want to save? Set a deadline. Make your goals attainable, but not too easy. Setting goals you CAN achieve will keep you motivated, but don’t make them too easy or it’s not really a challenge. The point is to stretch yourself to a higher level of functioning.
Make your goals relevant: Stay true to your values and purpose. Do your goals come from a personal desire for improvement that are tied to your belief system? What is most important to you? The more personally meaningful they are, the more likely you are to be successful.
Get a partner: Having a workout or healthy eating partner can help keep you motivated and on track. Design a supportive environment. For example, if you know that junk food and soda are your weakness, remove them from your home and replace them with healthy snacks and seltzer water. Remember, it’s nearly impossible to quit a behavior without replacing it with a new one. Find healthy alternatives. Start a progress chart. Record daily and weekly change. Write an accountability blog which others may be following.
Believe in yourself: Your goals have to be important to you. Does it motivate you? Is it a value of yours? Is it a high priority? Do you have a sense of urgency about it? Can you imagine yourself 6 months from now, or a year from now, having succeeded in your goal? What does that look like? How did you get there? Retrace your steps to determine what you did to be successful in your future self. This will help you define the steps to accomplishing what you want.
Put your goals in writing: Write them down in an “I Statement”. Put them in a visible place. Own them! This will serve as a reminder & motivator every time you see your personal statement. For example, if career development is your goal, “I will find a networking group in my field of interest to join by February 1. I will seek out courses and sign up for at least one new class or conference in my field of interest by February 1.”. Stick these on your refrigerator or on your desk, in a high traffic area in your home or office. Set reminders in your phone. Review your goals regularly.
Replace self sabotaging thoughts with a positive mantra: Be flexible. Remember that failures are only temporary setbacks and great motivators for change. It’s never too late to get back on track. Even if you haven’t met your goal by your deadline, remember this is a process that takes time. Don’t confuse the destiny with the path. Focus on the process of change. Each step you take will get you closer, even if its not exactly on schedule.
Now you’re ready to ring in the new year with a plan for a new you! Write your goals down. Be specific. Do some soul searching to determine what you value. Tell your friends. Get a partner. Set reminders. Chart your progress. Be patient. If you need a little extra support, call a Life Coach to help you clarify and become your improved future self. Happy New Year and New YOU!
click here to read the original post of this blog on whatwillyoubee.com.
