The New Year is almost upon us, and what better way to start the year than planning your new year’s resolutions and accomplishing them. If you haven’t completed anything this year, 2022 is a new page to try again.
Why Do We Have New Year’s Resolution?
Whether you plan to lose weight, run a 5K marathon, or start a new business, planning your new year’s resolutions makes you feel like you have a purpose. But why do people have these resolutions anyway?
According to studies, writing or planning a resolution is what researchers call the fresh start effect or performance reset. It is when your past performance metric is disassociated with your current performance. That is why many people “reset” their plans each time a new year comes [1].
Each new year feels like a new beginning to us and an opportunity to renew everything. While sometimes this may feel like we are way over our heads with all our plans, it can also determine our willpower. It will also show you how determined you can be once you set your mind to it.
So, what can you do to meet those New Year goals?
How to Meet Your New Year’s Resolution
Planning your new year’s resolution is excellent. It gives you the drive to do something within the twelve months given. How can you accomplish the goals you have written down? Here’s how:
1. Create a specific and measurable plan.
When you plan your resolution, make sure it is a specific one. Don’t just write something like “I want to run” – again, be specific. Do you want to run where? How long are you going to run for? What hours are you going to make a run?
A vague plan is most likely a lost plan. Try “I will run at least one hour twice a week” – it works better!
2. Focus on one goal at a time.
Writing a bunch of impossible resolutions is ridiculous. Let’s be more realistic here; you will not accomplish twenty resolutions in one year! Instead, write only the ones you can achieve for the year. Pick a goal and focus your attention on it. The more focused you are, the more likely you will accomplish your new year’s resolution.
3. Take your time when planning your resolutions.
Planning your new year’s resolution must be given some thought. Do not rush. Pick a goal you would like to achieve and plan out the steps to attain it. As you brainstorm for the steps to take, you can also keep track of yourself – ask yourself why you want to do it and how you can keep yourself in line to achieve it.
4. Write down the steps you need to take and follow through.
You cannot lose weight, save money, or pay your debts without a plan. Create a program with an objective that pushes you to change something. Whether you choose to cut off rice, reduce your beer intake or quit smoking, you must take the time and commit to these goals.
Carefully planning your steps and following through with them can help you in a big way.
5. Avoid making the same mistakes.
Mistakes are part of the process of self-improvement, and if your goal is to become a better version of yourself, there is a chance that you will make some bloopers along the way. But do not let it discourage you. Instead, use these mistakes as a reminder not to do them again.
If you still wanted to use the exact resolution last year. Just make sure to avoid the mistakes that you made back then. If the methods you tried last year did not work, try attacking them differently. Using a different tactic can also help you achieve your goals.
6. Track your progress and take note of changes.
Tracking your progress makes you accountable. It will motivate you to do better and push yourself to do more. When you can see your progress, it is easier to keep going. It also shows you how far you’ve come. Seeing your progress will also help you stay on track.
Just remember, progress is not always a straight line. So give yourself some credit for doing your best too. And no matter what, don’t stop – keep going!
7. Get a support team.
Meeting your goals yourself is a slow process, but it won’t be as bad if you have a support team. Having a buddy system can help you in many ways as it keeps you accountable and motivated. Plus, doing a workout or going for a run with friends sounds fun!
So, get yourself a friend or group of friends who have the same goals as you, and see your progress grow.
8. Keep going no matter what.
Sometimes, the people who were so pumped to meet their goals in January are already unmotivated by March. However, don’t stop with yours. Keep your progress going and track everything. If your steps are not working, redo them.
Eliminate the steps that are not working or slowing you down and develop a new plan. Having flexible measures can help you achieve your goals even if you have some setbacks. It’s all part of the process.
Planning Your New Year’s Resolutions is a Must
As you make your goals, keep in mind that setbacks are normal. You will probably encounter them more than once as you go through with your plans. Don’t worry – the key point here is to keep trying. As long as you are making progress, you are halfway there!
The new year offers us a time to restart, so make use of it! Never waste a day, and the next thing you will know, you have already achieved what you came for. Change is good, so enjoy the process. Go get ’em!
