In 2013 it was estimated by Forbes that 40% of Americans set New Year’s resolutions every single year. However, according to research done by the University of Scranton, it is estimated that only 8% of those people reach and achieve their goal by the end of the year. There are four important things that you must do if you want to achieve your goal.
The first thing you need to do is to question your motives.
There are many reasons why people set up New Year’s resolutions. Some only set a resolution to impress their friends. Others set a resolution because they are not satisfied with the past year. The rest may also set their resolutions because they feel that it is finally time to “better themselves”. Whatever the reason is, it is extremely important that you understand that your motives will have a direct effect on your success. If you are only setting a resolution to impress your friends, then you will probably give up when your resolution gets challenging. However, if you truly want to better yourself, you will have a better chance of succeeding.
The second thing you need to do is to question if your goal is specific enough.
It is one thing to make a general statement by saying “I want to save money” or “I want to lose weight.” However, it is extremely hard to follow through when you don’t set up a specific direction to take. For example, if I say that I need to save money on my gas and electric bill, I wouldn’t stop using heat and electricity and hope for the best. Instead I would set a realistic goal by contacting different energy providers, such as Atco Gas, to find new ways that I can save on my gas and electric bill on a monthly basis. Setting the goal to make an effort to call new companies is a small step that is necessary to make the most out of my resolution.
In the same way, if I decided to lose weight, I would not get a gym membership and just hope I lose weight. I would set an amount of pounds that I want to lose by the end of the year. Then I would thoughtfully plan out how I can change my diet and daily routine so that I can complete that goal. The more specific the goal is the better chance you will have at achieving it. A resolution is not a simple goal. It is a series of goals that are accomplished one after the other throughout the entire year. That being said, it is impossible to achieve a goal that you don’t have the mental, financial, or physical ability to achieve.
The third thing you need to do is to question your ability.
When setting a goal, it is important to remember that it must be realistic. It is fun to set crazy New Year’s resolutions in the moment but sometimes it is just not possible. For example, if I weigh 400 pounds and I want to lose 300 pounds by the end of the year, I will probably fail. There is no doubt that it is possible to lose a significant amount of weight in a year. However, it is next to impossible to drop from being 400 pounds to 100 pounds. If you set an unrealistic goal you will soon grow weary and quit your resolution altogether. The simple fix for this is to remember how much you can do to avoid disappointment down the road.
The fourth thing you need to do is find accountability.
Another extremely important factor is finding some sort of accountability. Without someone or something encouraging you to reach your goal, you may grow weary. This is why it is better to tell someone about your resolution. This way you are more likely to stick with your goal. If it is not possible to find a friend to keep you accountable, you can always find useful phone apps. There are multiple apps that can help you keep track of how much money you save, weight you lose, and food you eat. So as the New Year continues, remember that resolutions can be a fun and rewarding experience when they are carried out correctly. Try not to get disappointed too quickly. Instead, celebrate the small victories you have.
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