The New Year is already rolling along, and there are plenty
of aspirational things we all want to accomplish this year but sticking to new
goals and resolutions can be much harder than it sounds. To help you stick to
those resolutions and achieve whatever you set out to achieve, here are 3 ways
to stay committed and see the progress you make along the way.
Keep a timeline for progress
With any goal you may be pursuing, there are bound to be
obstacles, setbacks, and time constraints, but if you keep a general timeline
of when you want to achieve it, the journey becomes much smoother. To help with
building this timeline, try to break down your task into manageable chunks. For
example, if your resolution involves eating healthier, setting up weekly
personal check-ins can help immensely. After setting specific goals and
detailed steps, these check-ins, you will have a sense of accomplishment with
each successful week, and you will know exactly what to work on if you slip up
one week.
Work around your day-to-day schedule
Similar to the timeline strategy, there is something
powerful about incorporating new habits into your regular schedule gradually.
The main reason New Year's Resolutions are left behind is that people return to
their normal schedule after the holidays, and it seems stressful to fit
something new in. The key to combatting this is to build in a buffer/slowdown
period so you can readjust to the way you live day-to-day. Cut yourself some
slack and make your goal-chasing work for you. When you begin to settle back
in, slowly ramp up your pace, but make sure to celebrate even the smallest
victories.
Don’t be afraid to change your goals
There is always some unpredictability in all our lives, and
that may change what we want and need at a moment's notice. This may cause you
to abandon new goals to readjust, but instead of dropping or delaying your
ambition, try to sit down with yourself and figure out the best way to meet
your new needs. Once you’ve done that, your goals can be changed to reflect
this, and you’ll be on your way to achieving great things and proving to
yourself how adaptable you can be. To go along with the feeling of
accomplishment you’ll feel, having something to pursue and work toward helps
clear and center your mind in times of change. Even if it is a small objective,
dedicating yourself to achieving something can give you some semblance of peace
in even the most chaotic of times.
All in all, whatever you choose to chase after this year,
make sure you take care of yourself and give it more than a fair shake. If you
know in your heart that you gave one hundred percent effort, the worst that can
happen is you will feel a sense of calm in that you did everything you could to
make 2023 the best year yet. You deserve to bounce back better than ever, so
don’t let the person who stops you be staring back at you in the mirror.