It’s February, which means we are officially one month into our new year’s resolutions! Some of the most common ones are losing weight, saving money, staying off social media, or learning a new hobby. Whatever the goal, it is good to reflect on your progress. What type of resolutions did you make? How are you starting on those resolutions? Or have you decided maybe now is not the time to start on your goals? These are questions to ask yourself! The first step to achieving any goal is being honest with yourself.
As the months go by, remember you are right where you need to be. But if you are feeling stuck, here are a few tips that I feel have helped me get on the right path:
- Reevaluate your goals
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Go back to your lists of resolutions. Choose the ones that are the most important and realistic. Sometimes, we become intimidated by the number of goals we have made. Also, think of the way the goals can be accomplished. You want goals that aren’t too ambitious or that make it impossible to set a plan for them.
- Make a plan
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Usually, we have our end goal in mind without knowing how to get there. This is where a plan will help! It should have a beginning, middle, and end. Include rewards and checkpoints to notice your progress, results, and recognize achievements. For example, if your goal is to lose a certain amount of weight by a specific time, allow yourself a few times out of the month to reward yourself. Set dates on your calendar to check in on your progress and reflect on your journey. These little moments add up and make the entire process worth it!
- Don’t be too hard on yourself
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As a collective, I believe we don’t give ourselves enough credit for these goals. Reaching any goal takes patience and persistence. Usually, we don’t realize how much effort we put into achieving our daily objectives, much less in accomplishing a new year’s resolution. You don’t have to start on your goals today, tomorrow, or this week. But just remember that one day you do have to start.
The next step after preparation is commitment. As the saying goes: “it takes 21 days to build a habit, and one day to break it.” Staying focused on your path and being open to new opportunities will keep you determined. As cliche as it sounds, sometimes we need these reinforcements.