It’s hard to not make a New Year’s Resolution. I think even those of us that live a fit lifestyle have something that we would like to resolve to do better…and how could we not?
This is the time of year when good spirit prevails, hope runs rampant, and the prevalence of reflection renders the world dreaming of better days. Perhaps this will be the year. The best year. The year when dreams come true.
Enter, the New Year’s Resolution. The common resolution has great intentions—the intent to alter a piece of life that contributes negatively to one’s overall well-being. Unfortunately, New Year’s Resolutions {especially fitness ones!} tend to lose steam somewhere around the end of January. Resolutions are a significant step on the road to change, but the type of resolution that has the best chance of causing a lifelong change goes by another name—a goal.
1. Identify one specific goal
Spreading your efforts too thin can lead to little progress, and eventual abandonment of goals altogether. Focusing your efforts, 24-7, on one specific goal will drastically increase the odds of success. So choose the one goal that will make the biggest positive impact on your life and throw 100 percent of your mind, body, and soul into accomplishing it.
Tip: Try just doing One Thing Everyday. Small steps make a difference and can lead to a snowball effect carrying you even farther.
2. Make an action plan
Without a concrete plan, a goal is just a wish. Identify what steps need to be taken to accomplish the goal. What needs to change? What needs to be added or eliminated? What does your day-to-day schedule need to look like? These are all aspects of life that need to be addressed in order for the goal to be accomplished. Remember, without real, thoughtful change, life will continue to go on as it has in the past.
Tip: Do your research and compile concrete tools to get the job done. Print out those HIIT workouts you’ve been pinning and set your alarm just 30 minutes earlier. Make tangible, concrete changes.
3. Commit to yourself
This is most difficult part. This is the part of the New Year’s Resolution that begins to fade somewhere around the latter part of January when life builds up and goes back to ‘normal’. This is the time to consciously remind yourself to not give up. Hang the action plan on the fridge, stick to your schedule, and remember why this goal is so important in the grand scheme of life. There will always be difficult stretches, but these stretches are just that. If you push forward and stay committed, your goals will become reality.
Tip: Use social media to your advantage by following motivational accounts that remind you of why your goals are so important, and essential, to your well-being.
Setting specific and attainable goals going into the New Year is crucial to long term success. A New Year’s Resolution is a great starting point, and a necessary piece of the goal setting process. You can keep you New Year’s Resolutions this year. Follow these three steps to turn your New Year’s Resolutions into reality.
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