Choosing A Realistic New Year’s Resolution

Good afternoon!  It’s Jeff from the Self Help Tips Blog.

Today I would like to discuss how to set a New Year’s resolution and stick to it.

The year is coming to a close, and for many of us there is a list of things that we were supposed to accomplish this year but didn’t. The ghosts of unrealized promises haunt the dark corners of your mind, and you wonder, "Is there still time to lose 30 pounds?" As the reality of your failure sinks in, you vow not to let it happen again this year. You will do it! You will keep every one of your New Year’s resolutions this, year even if it kills you. But even with all of your newfound optimism, you can’t seem to crowd out that tiny voice that keeps saying, "Who are you kidding? You said the same thing last year and the year before that, and look where it got you."

So what’s it going to be this year? What are your goals? Maybe you want to lose some weight, quit smoking, be more active, pay off your credit cards, go back to school, or finally land that promotion. Maybe your resolutions are simple. Maybe you want to just spend more time with your family or get that garage cleaned out. Whatever resolution ideas you have, you will have a hard time accomplishing them if you don’t learn how to set realistic goals and initiate a game plan.

The problem with New Year’s resolutions is that they are often based on fantasy or are too complicated to achieve in a year’s time. The number of New Year’s resolutions that you make can also make it difficult to stay focused. While setting goals is vital for one’s improvement, having unrealistic goals or too many goals will only set you up for failure. So forget about losing weight, remodeling the house, going to school, and traveling to Spain this year. Instead, choose one goal and work single-mindedly toward it. After all, a year is shorter than you may think.

When making your New Year’s resolution, remember to keep your goal realistic and specific. For example: Instead of saying, "I want to lose some weight this year," say "I want to lose 20 pounds this year." You also need to keep goals realistic, or you will never be able to reach them and will only become discouraged. If doubling your business’ profit margin is unrealistic, why not set a goal of increasing profits by 20 percent?

Now that you have your goal firmly in mind, you need to learn how to work toward it. Since large goals can be overwhelming and hard to focus on, divide your goal into smaller goals. For example: If your goal is to lose X amount of pounds, divide that amount by 12 to create smaller, monthly goals. Work hard each month toward each short-term goal. Monitor your progress weekly to ensure that you stay on the right track. Find motivation through a support group, a friend, or weight-loss publications. Set up a reward system for each milestone that you complete successfully and don’t look back. Before you know it, the year will be over and you will have realized your goal.  Happy New Year, and good luck!