How do you prepare for the coming year? Making a list of resolutions is one step, although not putting them into action nullifies its creation. So, how do you make your goals happen in 2016?
One Goal at a Time
"Your chances of success are greater when you channel energy into changing just one aspect of your behaviour," NHS Choices said, based on the findings of University of Hertfordshire's Professor Richard Wiseman's study on keeping New Year's resolutions.
Further, as also noted by the American Psychological Association (APA), changing behaviors take time, so it's more realistic to focus on one resolution at a time rather than a bunch of goals all in one go.
Start ASAP
Why wait for tomorrow to do what you can do today? You have better chances of accomplishing your 2016 goal(s) if you work on it as soon as you've finalized it, even before the year actually starts. Think of the advance work as practice, so that when the New Year sets in, you're 100% on the road to hitting your target.
Don't Repeat Resolutions
You wouldn't want to wear the same sweaty gym clothes twice, do you? That's the same thing with resolutions - you're bound for disappointment and frustration if you're going to recycle them.
Announce Your Goals
Post your resolutions on social media; tell all your friends and family members about your new target for 2016. Why? Because you have a better chance of getting support if you do. Also, if you need help in achieving your target, it's easier to ask for assistance from someone who already knows your story and your mission for the coming year.
Forgive Yourself and Carry On
"Remember that minor missteps when reaching your goals are completely normal and OK," APA advised. "Don't give up completely because you ate a brownie and broke your diet, or skipped the gym for a week because you were busy."
"Everyone has ups and downs; resolve to recover from your mistakes and get back on track," it added.
If at one point in your goal achievement you get stuck in a rut and aren't on track anymore, just think Nike - just do it!
Push yourself by just diving right in and doing what you've resolved to do without much thought or griping so you're likely to finish the year congratulating yourself for a job well done. If the goal is overwhelming, break it up into small steps. You may have only hit just one target, but the bottomline is that you've accomplished your New Year's resolution.
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