New Year’s often come with new resolutions, but are your resolutions achievable or just pipe dreams? This blog will cover four tips to set you up for success and make realistic goals that you can actually accomplish.
Each New Year provides us with a clean slate and a chance to turn over a new leaf – so let’s make sure this year we get it right! Many of us make grandiose resolutions that we perhaps haven’t thought through properly, only to find ourselves back at square one when the year comes to an end.
So, let’s explore how we can make realistic resolutions that will lead to tangible results and crucial lifestyle changes throughout the year.
What Are Resolutions and Why Make Them?
A ‘resolution’ is defined as a firm decision to do or not to do something. Resolutions serve as an excellent opportunity for personal growth and development, arming us with the tools we need to make real change in our lives.
When done correctly, New Year resolutions can bring about substantial advancements in our careers, relationships and day-to-day life. With this being said, it’s a must that you choose resolutions that inspire you rather than bore or overwhelm you.
Making realistic goals will depend on your current situation – but the key takeaway here is that setting a goal simply for the sake of making one will likely have little effect. The goal must be achievable yet ambitious – allowing you space to grow without pushing yourself too far.
Once identified, break down your resolution into manageable tasks and plan how you’ll streamline each task with clear cut strategies set out in weekly or monthly plans. This fine-grained approach ensures that no task is neglected or forgotten!
Tips For Making Realistic Resolutions
Tip #1: Break it Down
The main reason that resolutions fail is because people try to make too many drastic changes all at once. This can be a bit overwhelming and difficult to stick with in the long-term. It’s like trying to run a marathon without practice.
Therefore, the first step is to break down your goals into smaller, achievable chunks. For example, if you want to lose 50 pounds in one year, start by aiming for 10 pounds every three months.
Tip #2: Visualize Your Success
Often our progress with New Year’s resolutions is blocked by negative thinking and doubt. To combat this mindset, create an inspirational vision board as a daily reminder of what you wish to achieve throughout the year. Hang it near your desk or somewhere where you can see it for motivation on days when things seem tough.
Tip #3: Get an Accountability Partner
We all know that having someone hold us accountable is important when it comes to staying motivated and making sure that we don’t procrastinate on our goals.
Find someone who shares similar ambitions and check up on each other frequently throughout the year – this will keep you both motivated and encouraged towards achieving great things together!
Tip #4: Celebrate Every Milestone
As previously mentioned, break down your goals into small chunks that are more completely feasible. Don’t forget to celebrate every milestone!
Each ‘win’ should be rewarded with a pat on the back – maybe even allowing yourself something special related to your resolution – before moving onto the next goal in focus.
Set Attainable Goals
Setting attainable goals is perhaps the most important step of setting realistic resolutions. It’s great to be ambitious and challenge yourself but make sure your goals are achievable on some level.
Break your larger goal into smaller milestones that can be reached as you progress. This will allow you to build up momentum as you gain confidence in achieving certain milestones every month.
Having measurable progress along the way will help set a timeline for when things need to be achieved by and gives you something tangible to strive towards.
Maybe it’s working out 3x per week or eating more vegetables – just make sure that the goal is not too lofty right at the beginning. Instead, aim low so as to increase your likelihood of success, while also increasing motivation further down the line when you can pump up the intensity if needed.
Create A Plan Of Action
Creating a plan of action is key when tackling anything in life – and New Year’s resolutions are no exception! Begin by writing out all the areas you want to target, breaking it down into small goals that are easily achievable.
For instance, if your goal is to “lose weight” you can specify precisely how much weight you want to lose over what period of time – this will mean you’re more focused and willing to persevere when times get tough.
Or perhaps your goal is to “save money”- map out an actionable plan as to where exactly your additional savings will come from and think about setting up an automated payment system so the process runs more smoothly.
Formulating a plan of action gives us the necessary insight into our own behavior; it allows us to track our progress over time and make adjustments accordingly.
A well-made plan can also help us overcome any doubts or roadblocks we may encounter during our journey – so don’t be afraid to dive in and get creative!
Make it a Year-Round Habit
The key to achieving long-term success is making the changes you want a part of your regular routine. Many resolutions focus on ephemeral moments and single behaviours, rather than creating habits that will extend beyond this one year.
Think about what you would like to achieve and then start chipping away at it through persistent, everyday actions. It could be as simple as working out for 30 minutes three times a week, or reading 10 pages of a book every day before bed.
When it comes to making positive lifestyle changes, small steps taken consistently can eventually lead to big results, if you persist!
At the end of the day, resolutions are just promises to ourselves that we intend on keeping. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t meet every goal you set – instead, focus on what went right and what areas you can improve upon.
Last year was an incredibly difficult year for many, so don’t forget to take time and celebrate your own successes in the next year!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some unique new year’s resolutions?
– Take a vow of silence once a week.
– Declutter and remove one item from the home every day.
– Spend time with new people by attending different events each month.
– Feed animals you encounter on the street, or in your backyard.
– Plant a tree each month.
What is the #1 new year’s resolution?
The most popular New Year’s resolution is to improve one’s health and well-being. This commonly includes resolutions such as eating healthier, exercising more, and managing stress better.
What are the 3 most common new year’s resolutions?
The three most common New Year’s resolutions are to
- lose weight.
- increase health and fitness.
- save money.
What should I change in the new year?
In the new year, you should focus on setting personal goals that are achievable and meaningful. Identify any bad habits you want to break and identify any positive habits you want to create.
Take time to evaluate yourself, your relationships, and your career path. Spend time each day reflecting on your progress and how you can continue to make improvements for a better life for yourself and others.
Is a new year’s resolution a goal?
Yes, a new year’s resolution is a goal as it is intended to help a person achieve an ambition or improve an aspect of their life.
What is your resolution?
My resolution for the new year is to improve my consistency and make it a habit to do 3 things every day: Get design inspiration, Learn something], and Write for my blog.
How to make this year your best year?
To make this year your best year, set tangible goals and make a plan to achieve them, break down the journey into small manageable chunks, track your progress and review it regularly, focus on the things your can control and be sure to take time for yourself.
How do you set new year goals?
Setting new year goals can be done by first reflecting on the past year and defining short-term and long-term goals. Then, break down each goal into smaller steps and create a plan to help you accomplish them. Finally, commit to your goals by tracking progress and holding yourself accountable.
