How did you fare in the first month? Are you still going strong or did you already give up? Kudos to you if you are on track and no worries if you aren’t. Don’t beat yourself up or feel like a failure, just get back on the horse. Accomplishing your goal is up to YOU and YOU alone.
Here are 10 tips to keep you going, get back on track or get started to making 2015 your best year yet!
1. Write it down
Put your goal in writing, it sets your intention. It puts it into the universe and allows you to see it regularly rather than just think about it. Put it in a place where you will see it daily, like on the bathroom mirror or the refrigerator. Better yet, put it on your smartphone and set a daily or weekly alarm to remind you to check in with yourself.
A study conducted by Dominican University showed people who write down their goals perform significantly better than those who don’t.
2. Say it out loud to someone else
State your goal out loud and share it with someone else. By saying it out loud, you make it real because you have to get clear about it. If you tell a friend you are writing a book, they will want to know more about it and will check in on your progress. It solidifies your commitment.
The same Dominican University study proves that having a buddy to help hold you accountable will yield more success than just thinking about your goal.
3. Break it down
Break your goal down in to small, actionable and measureable turtle steps. Focus on one step at a time to make it more manageable. This will also give you a sense of accomplishment, which will fuel you to keep going. Set a timeline for completing each step. You will get there slowly but surely!
4. Create a mantra
A mantra is a short group of reaffirming words that can help center your mind and transform your life. Words have power, but YOU have the power to choose the words you speak to yourself.
Remember Stuart Smalley from SNL? His mantra was “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!”
Create something positive and affirming for yourself and say it on a daily basis.
5. Reward yourself
Accomplish one of your turtle steps? Give yourself a reward. You’ll get a feeling of satisfaction when you've conquered each step and will be motivated to keep going. Just make sure your reward is not something that will sabotage your progress.
6. Create a vision board
Vision boards are used to clarify, visualize, and maintain focus on a goal. Why did you choose this goal? What are you hoping to accomplish with it? What feelings will achieving it invoke? Create a vision board to keep your eye on the prize. Look through old magazines, find images on Pinterest or the internet and make a collage around your goal. Dream big, what do you want to create for yourself? What does your ideal life look like? Ideal day? What will you be doing? Get specific.
7. Track your progress
If you feel like you have a long way to go, it helps to see what you've accomplished already. Trying to exercise more? Looking back at what you have done in the last week or month will give you encouragement, if you did it before you can do it again today!
8. Investigate your thoughts
Ever hear the saying “Change your thoughts, change your life”? Negative self-talk will get you nowhere. Pay attention to what you are telling yourself. Your thoughts create your feelings and your feelings drive your behavior. What stories are you telling yourself around this goal? Become aware or your self-talk and keep it positive.
9. Get support
Find people with similar goals so you can support each other. Want to run a marathon? Join a training group. Trying to get a promotion? Find a mentor. Hang out with positive people who have accomplished or are trying to accomplish the same thing.
10. Practice gratitude
Be thankful for what you already have. Recognize it, acknowledge it, and be grateful. This is important. Take a look around and give thanks for what you have already been blessed with.
So, whether you want to get in shape, drop a few pounds, get a new job, work on a relationship, or something else, following these tips will help you get where you want to go.
And if all else fails, remember the wise words of Dory....
Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming!