By Tara Richter…
January always means one thing to me: time to get organized, start fresh and put into place those New Year’s resolutions. I happen to really like the opportunity that each January brings of looking to a brand new year and making some goals for myself. Unfortunately, as research shows, many of the best intended resolutions do not actually come to fruition.
So how is a person to make some goals and attain them? A good place to start is to really evaluate where you are and what it is that you want to accomplish. Here are my own top five ways to keep those resolutions:
1. Be realistic
If you really want to achieve something, be real with yourself and ensure it is something you can actually do. That isn’t to say, however, that you shouldn’t push yourself to achieve a stretch-goal. Winning the lottery, while a great idea, is highly improbable, whereas learning financial skills in order to establish a savings plan is much more realistic.
2. Take some time to plan and get organized
Of course nothing is going to happen by itself, so take some time up front to map out how you will achieve your goal and to plan for all the things you will need in order to be successful. Having the tools and resources you need at the beginning will go a long way to ensure the goal is attained.
3. Break it down into manageable pieces
Setting mini-targets with timeframes within the larger goal can provide the motivation for success as little victories are achieved and progress is actually seen over time.
4. Buddy Up
Telling someone about your goal, or having a similar goal as someone else, makes you accountable and more likely to achieve the goal when you know someone is watching and cheering you on along the way.
5. Don’t Worry – Be Happy
Often when we fall short of a desired outcome, the tendency is to label it as a “failure”. However there are lots of things to be learned in the process, not just the outcome. After all, it’s about the journey, not the destination. Choose to see the bright side of the progress what was made, what can be learned, and apply those learnings next time, or to the next goal. Perhaps that 20 lb weight loss goal wasn’t achieved, but you managed to lose 10 and learn some great fitness skills along the way; to me, that equals success!
The Start Fresh Boutique with DK Canada has some fantastic books that can really help you get started, or continue with your new goals for 2015. From cooking, to fitness, boosting brain power, or even taking up a new craft, there is something for everyone in this series of books. I chose the High Intensity Interval Training for Women book, because in 2015 I decided I want to make health/fitness my priority. I love that these books are highly visual, easy to follow, and have a lay-out that makes them so reference over and over. DK Canada books can be ordered online and are available from a wide range of retailers.
I really like DK Canada and got many of their books, especially cookbooks. I will look into the High Intensity Interval Training for Women. Thanks for sharing.