This year make sure you stick to your new year resolutions
It feels just like yesterday when 2016 began. And, it’s been long gone before we could even realize. We are in 2017. I am sure most of you would have made resolutions for this year as well, just like you did twelve months back. And, a year before that. And, before that as well.
“Want to become more productive this year? Start using a project management software to manage your projects”
This is a vicious circle of resolutions. We make them on New Year’s Eve or a few days before that. 1st January comes. We go all guns blazing on sticking to those promises we made to our self. Some of us stick to them for a few days, some for few weeks. And, some who have a strong will stick to these resolutions for a month or so. But, those people are rare who stick to them religiously.
This year, let’s break that vicious circle. Let’s stick to those resolutions for the entire year. Don’t worry, you won’t have to do it alone. I’m here with some words of wisdom that will help to make sure you stick to your new year resolutions for 2017.
Take a look -
Set a vision, not just goals
There is a realistic difference between goals and vision. Goals are the stepping stones to reach a certain point where we envision to be after a fixed time. A big mistake we all have been making in our life is that we all focus on the small picture. We don’t keep the bigger picture in mind, and that bigger picture is the vision I am talking about here.
For instance, where do you look yourself at after a couple of years? Maybe you want to become an entrepreneur or a traveller or whatever? To reach that vision, you need to have goals.
But, when marking our resolutions most of the time we think of doing something for the coming 12 months. We don’t think how these 12 months are going to influence our vision. Be a self-judge. Did anyone of you think of your New Year goals while keeping that bigger goal (your vision) in mind?
Be realistic while setting a resolution
Once you have a vision, you need to have realistic plan on how to reach there. You cannot become a successful entrepreneur in a few months. No matter how revolutionary your ideas are, everything takes planning, and time. So, you need to be realistic while creating resolutions.
Let us take example of getting your body into shape. If you want to get six pack abs, you need to work out hard for months. You cannot get it in just a matter of days. If you haven’t worked out ever in life then it is going to take longer than people who work out regularly to get in shape. Setting a resolution that I want to become fit in a couple of months won’t be a realistic goal in such a case.
Same is the scenario with everything else. You need to be realistic when setting a resolution only then will you be able to stick to it.
Take it slow, one step at a time
Think of your new year resolutions as a project. Just like we break each project into stages, break your resolution into phases. Have a resolution to finish writing a book by the end of 2017? Start with writing one chapter per month. As a matter of fact, break it down even further to a couple of pages per day.
This way you won’t burden yourself under any pressure. At the same time, it won’t make any impact on the things you have been already doing. You won’t have the pressure to finish everything in a short time.
Most of us break our resolutions because we expect everything to happen in the blink of an eye. As they say, taking the first step is hard. But, making sure that first step does not remain just one step is even harder. We must learn to walk before we begin to run, that’s exactly what fits in here!
Review the progress made
No one else can be a better judge of your life than you! It’s your life, your decision and your vision?—?where you want to be in the future. That’s why it is you who have to review the progress made.
You have started with the goals. You are sticking to them religiously as well. But, how to make sure that you are on the right? The answer is short and simple?—?review the progress made by you!
You have a vision, you have broken it down it into goals. Now, just analyze whether you are where you want to be after a set time to complete your vision? If you are not, then you need to pick up the pace or do whatever it takes to get your resolution train on the right track!
Remember?—?setting a goal is important. But keeping an eye on whether you are on the right track is even more important!
Celebrate achievements
If you are not on the right track, you need to make amendments in the plan. But if you are, then it becomes important to celebrate those achievements. We humans are greedy creatures. When our mind knows it will get a reward for achieving something, it keeps us motivated.
That’s why I say don’t forget to celebrate your achievements. That way you are tempting your brain to stay focused. And, we all know how important focus is to stick to your resolutions.
When you jot down your goals for 2017, make a list of gifts you will give yourself on achieving them. This will keep your mind’s temptation mode on and you will focus more on achieving the goals you’ve set.
And, that’s what matters in the end!
I’m sure after reading this post many a people would have thought?—?these points are so basic. I agree, they are. And I know we all have had these thoughts in the back of our mind. But, never thought about implementing them.
Sometimes we forget about the basics and start thinking about everything as rocket science. No, everything is not rocket science!
Life’s not that tough. If you just follow the basics you can move mountains and achieve whatever you want to. Here’s to a prosperous and more fruitful 2017. I hope you are able to achieve all your goals that lead to the bigger vision in your life!
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About The Author
Sandeep Kashyap is the Founder of ProofHub. You can connect with him on Twitter,Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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Originally published at Medium.com