With New Years just a few weeks away, I began to reflect on the goals I have accomplished, those I fell short on and new ones I would like to achieve. I’ve researched ways to insure success and below are some successful strategies as well as some new tips that I plan to try!
Let’s start with the good stuff!
This past year, I spent more time on outdoor activities like snowboarding and hiking. I committed to meditating and continue to do so on a regular basis. I worked towards increasing my blog presence and increasing my readership. I’ve stayed active in community work. I crossed off 3 more states from my bucket list. See here, here and here.
For my goals for this year, I plan to visit D.C. during the Cherry Blossom Festival. Instead of just thinking about this, I put the date down in ink in my calendar.
I plan to work towards being more present in the moment, spending more quality time with my children, worrying less, and signing up for tango lessons twice a month.
And for the obvious…I would like to decrease my sugar intake by saying no to sweets but I know that’s not going to fly (at present moment, I have a candy store in my night table). Therefore, I will stick to the 3 bite rule when it comes to dessert and allow myself 1 healthy treat during the day.
I presently break a sweat 3-4 days per week. I would like to hit 10,000 steps per day except for Saturday. A girl needs her beauty rest, damn it.
So how do I successfully stick to my resolutions for the long haul?
To start, set realistic and attainable goals. Declare them publicly, like I have, so that others will encourage and help you. Remember to reward yourself for your success. Research suggests it take 21 days for new habits to take hold. Knowing this is a great motivator.
Specify your goals. For example, Don’t just think you’re going to be healthier. Think about how. Will you go to the gym more? Will you drink less? You get the idea. Be clear with yourself.
Create a list of all the reasons you should keep going. Sometimes we get discouraged and by referring to a list of reasons why it’s important to reach your goals can increase the likelihood that you’ll stick to your good habits.
Sticking to good habits can be hard work and mistakes are part of the process. Don’t declare failure simply because you messed up or because you’re having trouble reaching your goals. Instead, be optimistic, “Someone who takes a step backward after 2 steps forward should not claim disaster. It’s more like the cha-cha.” Just keep on dancing!
Happy New Years to all!!!
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