New Year New You - stop the cycle!
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‘New Year, New You’ -
why this is BS
How often have you heard this statement? How many times have you made “new years resolutions” and in short turn around you lost sight of them, forgot about them, and in the end did not stick to them?
I’m sure your answer was, “TOO MANY TIMES.”
It’s almost like the moment you say you are making New Years Resolutions, they are bound to fail!
I don’t know about you but I am a goal oriented person and when I don’t make my goal, part of me feels guilty about that.
The idea of people setting themselves up for failure right off the bat makes me so frustrated. If we are making the time to create goals, “resolutions”, then we should aim to achieve them.
How do we make the change? How do we create appropriate goals and keep the motivation to achieve them?
Write down your goals
Start now. Resolutions and goals don’t need to be decided and thought about in January. You can reestablish this or add to your list every month if you wanted to! January is not this magical month where all the goals are born.
Write down your short term goals as you see them right now. These are goals you aim to achieve within a short time frame; anywhere between a few weeks to a few months.
Then write down your long term goals. These are goals beyond your 6 month view and far beyond into your 5 year plan.
These lists don’t need to be very long, maybe you only have one or two in each category.
Mark your milestones
Set yourself up to win. Place the carrot in front of yourself to chase after as your motivation ebbs and flows.
Understand that the simple fact of you having a goal that you want to achieve should be motivation enough. On the other hand, sometimes having events or special items, like going on a trip or buying yourself something you’ve wanted for awhile, as a prize once you have achieved a goal is the perfect motivation for you.
Support yourself.
Change your thought process and surroundings
Your surroundings, whether at home, work, your car, etc. can alter how you feel and influence your habits.
Create the atmosphere that will make you successful.
When I have a kitchen full of dirty dishes, counters with crumbs, laundry overflowing, clothing on the dining room table, it throws me off my game; makes me feel overwhelmed and mentally cluttered.
Why do this to yourself? These are things YOU can change instantly for yourself. Take advantage of the things you can change on your own because lord knows other unpredicted things will occur that can throw you off your game. Don’t let one of those things be yourself!
Share your goals
By involving the people in your life and sharing the goals you have has numerous benefits.
Not only will this result in better accountability but also they can lend an assist when needed.
If diet is in your goals and they know Oreos are your weakness, they won’t bring them around you (as long as you voice this to them.) Whereas if they didn’t know, they could be sabotaging you and have no idea!
Be honest with yourself
This is the toughest and easiest part.
You must realize that your motivation, your thoughts, your actions and your progress are on your own accord; they are your responsibility. Do not blame others for you not staying on track. No one can force you to do anything, or feel anyway. Your surroundings can certainly influence but that goes back to making sure you are around people and in settings that make you feel good.
This may a tougher thing for you to realize, that certain people you associate with are ones that are not great for your progress.
Take your life into your own hands. End the cycle of starting and not finishing. Achieve and continue to grow. This is your life, live it exactly how you want to.
-Be well, be happy, be you.
HRW