It’s a new year which means fresh new goals and a clean slate. Most of us always have the right motivation and quickly start establishing our goals for the year, but the real challenge starts when we need to maintain these goals and be consistent with them for longer than the first two months.
I get it, life can get pretty hectic, and it’s not easy staying on top of things while trying to balance a lot of other situations that may come up. However, I’ve been through the cycles and mishaps that this weird life has thrown my way, and I want to help you triumph over yours. That’s why I’ll be sharing some of the things that might be stopping you from getting to the other side of your quest because it’s not just motivation, it’s also how you prepare for these things that matter.
First, and rightly so, how well do you know your capacity? When we don’t know how much we can give or how much we can start with to stay on track, we can lose sight of things in the long run. So, the main thing would be to establish those boundaries and understand where you stand. That being said, don’t set a goal that is too far beyond your reach. For example, if you want to start running again, but you haven’t gone running in a year, don’t just make yourself run for half an hour. The first step would be to set up a daily 5 to 6-minute run and then gradually work your way up to longer runs.
This is a method used in a self-help book called Mini Habits by Stephen Guise where you set up a relatively easy goal. This can increase the satisfaction you get when accomplishing something and can even motivate you to go the extra mile. By doing something that is within reach, this method makes sure that your goals are attainable and accessible. And, because the journey toward your goals will be easier, you’ll help yourself build up the confidence to keep going.
I acknowledge that sometimes it’s easy to set up goals in a certain format based on the habits you want to break, so that you can reach your finish line with the habits you want to create, but this may not be working for you. What I mean is, don’t set anti-action goals. Set action goals. Think of it like this, let’s say that you want to spend less time on your phone and cut down on your social media time so you can take care of yourself and get more things done. However, you’ve realized that as soon as you get home after a long day, you hop on the phone. Therefore, you establish the goal to yourself as “I won’t use the phone as soon as I get home.”
Now, that’s admirable babe, you took the first step! But, here’s why that may also work against you: this anti-action goal is telling you what you can’t do, but the way you break bad habits is by establishing a better, healthier routine. So instead of not using the phone, your goal should be action-oriented and should look a bit more like, “As soon as I get home, instead of getting on my phone, I’ll listen to a podcast, read a book, or catch up on my studies.” This is how you can pave the way to getting rid of those bad habits, by replacing them with things that align with your goals.
Another mistake you might be making is resolving things too broadly. This might look like setting up way too many goals and resolutions. Now, it’s okay! You have a long-term vision for your goals, but it’s better to take these things one step at a time. If you set up way too many goals, the chances of accomplishing them start to look a bit scarce. This means you need to be specific, or else you’ll end up feeling overwhelmed which might interfere with your progress and productivity.
Not having a viable way to measure your progress inevitably interferes with what you need to get done, so instead opt for a goal you want to work on and focus on just that one goal, a maximum of two. This can help you organize and work on your resolution better.
Other than being too broad, you might also be asking way too much of yourself. Now, I know we covered the ‘knowing your capacities’ bit, but in this instance, what I mean is that, when making resolutions, we think more along the lines of wishes. We kind of think about them as all the things we want to accomplish, but that is not the way to deal with actual, tangible results.
You have to work within the bounds of what’s possible. You’re making a decision and pouring your effort into it, so instead try again to work with no more than two goals. Other than the effort of accomplishing these goals, you also need to pour your focus into your studies, your job, your matters, social time, the people close to you, and whatever is a day-to-day priority. So remember to stay on track with a clear and concise resolution because it will keep you centered on what you should be doing, that is firmly within your control and abilities.
A mistake people tend to repeat is creating vague goals instead of concrete ones. Don’t just say you’re going to eat healthier, but say what are the specific things you’re going to eat that will help you eat healthier. Being specific with your goals increases your chances of organizing and prioritizing them. Now, if your goal is something considerably big, then another mistake is taking it on without paving the way to make it within reach. The best way to tackle this would be to break down that goal into daily achievable ways of accomplishing it. This could also be solved by keeping a goal journal. If this proves a bit difficult, you can consider apps that help you keep lists or trackers.
Having a tangible way of measuring your progress will help you overcome the feeling of being stuck. I’ll tell you with great pleasure and assurance that if you follow these steps and recognize these problems and work towards the solutions, then your year will most definitely be a productive and fruitful one. I know you can reach the top and cross that finish line, hun!