New year, new me — That’s what we always say, isn’t it? When that Times Square ball drops each year, we all expect that suddenly our lives are magically going to change – that we’ll lose the weight, meet the Dean’s List requirements or get that job promotion we’ve been dreaming of.
Whatever your goal for the next year is, the beginning of a new year seems likes the perfect time to start. However, as soon as the first month goes by, we begin to lose sight of our goals ,and all of a sudden we’re right back where we started.
New Year’s Eve is a good time to look at the goals we want to set, but it definitely takes more than just a single day to actually commit to your dreams and put them into action. Here’s a few tips on how to make sure you’re making the most of your New Year’s resolutions all year ’round.
Identify your goals: One of the many reasons New Year’s resolutions may fail is because the person is not quite clear on what he or she wants to achieve. Be specific, and try and map out how you are going to achieve those goals.
For instance, say I want to lose weight. Instead of leaving it hypothetical, I could go into detail – map out exactly how much weight I want to lose, how I plan to achieve that goal and what I will need to complete it. Making a list or a goal sheet is a great way to take a more concrete look at your New Year’s dreams.
Set achievable goals: Accomplishing great tasks takes time and commitment, which is why it’s important to only set goals that you will actually be able to achieve. Going from getting B’s and C’s to getting straight A’s in just one semester is not impossible, but it is very difficult without completely changing your study habits and losing your social life.
A more achievable goal would be to get all B’s this semester, or to find the class you consistently struggle in and improve that grade. Biting off more than you can chew is one of the many reasons New Year’s resolutions go downhill quickly.
Don’t lose sight of your goals: That first week of January starts off great, but by the third week you’ve all but forgotten about your life-changing fervor, right? This is the biggest reason people struggle to make it through the New Year with their resolutions. Finding an accountability buddy or writing reminders for yourself can combat this slump, but in the end, it really is up to you whether or not the changes you want to make happen.
Going into the New Year with a clean heart and mind and letting go of whatever happened in the year before that broke your heart, your body or your bank account is the biggest step in your personal battle to greatness.
Forget what has happened last year — not making the ‘A’ in that class, getting dumped right before formal. Whatever is still weighing on you from 2016 needs to be erased.
It’s a new year and a new battle, but don’t make it a competition between you and your 2016 self; take it one day at a time, and acknowledge what you’ve done each day that makes you better than the day before. 2017 can be everybody’s year, so go forth and conquer.
