Christmas, Hanukkah…all the religious holidays came to an end in December, and a new dawn approaches. It’s the start of a new year, a new you. Most people write new year’s resolutions at this point of a year. However, about 80 percent of the U.S. population fails to achieve their resolutions, according to U.S. News & World Report. I’m sure that a lot of you guys have experience with these failures about new year’s resolutions, and some of you might have been disappointed with yourselves about goal achievements. Here are some tips about how you can actually achieve what you have planned a year before, and how you won’t let your future self down.
1. Don’t shoot for the stars.
The biggest reason for failure is the unrealistic expectations people have about themselves. While sounding a bit harsh, you should always remember that a little goes a long way. The start of a new year is also a great time to look back upon yourself a little. Figure out your average performance and your limits, and then set your goals just a little further from what you originally do. If you want to work out and become more fit this year, and if you prefer to stay inside and play computer games rather than going to the gym, it’s best not to plan to “Go to the gym and work out for 5 hours every day.” Get what I mean?
2. Be more specific.
Vague goals don’t last long. Resolutions have a tendency to fade away over time, and vague promises with yourself fade faster. You have to be specific with what you want to achieve. Add specific numbers to your resolutions. Instead of “Losing weight,” you can plan to “Lose 10 kgs.” Instead of “Getting A+s on every subject,” you can say “Study at least 3 hours a day,” for instance. This does not only apply to how you phrase your resolutions: keeping track of what you did every day will add a great deal to specificity, helping you stay focused and motivated. A lot of people forget that they even made a new year’s resolution in the first place. Don’t let yourself be that person!
3. Believe in yourself.
It’s happened before: you failed last year and the year before that. It’s easy to fall into the belief that you’ll fail again. Negative thoughts do nothing to improve yourself, nor your self-confidence and satisfaction. Don’t say that you “Won’t” do something — phrase your words carefully. Instead of “Not eating fast food,” you can “Eat balanced and healthy meals with vegetables included.” If you failed to do something one day, don’t give up too soon! Encourage yourself, and keep pushing forward. Another tip is to enjoy the process, possibly with positive reinforcements to keep you on track. One little step may not be a giant leap for mankind, but it sure can be a leap for your future self.