Goal Setting - Part 3

We all know the tradition. When January 31st rolls around, everyone decides that THIS year will be the year that they stick to their resolutions. Whether it’s to finally win the battle against weight gain, go back to school and earn that degree or finally quit that boring 9-5 job, we’re all guilty of setting these life-changing goals, only to give them up by the time February 1st shows up on the calendars.

However, you don’t need to wait until New Year’s Eve in order to set the kind of goals that can change your life forever; in fact, while you’re reading this article, you can make the conscious choice to make a change now. We’ve got the best tips and techniques on how you can stick to your goals, no matter how challenging they may seem – so by the time New Years comes around again, you’ll already have achieved your previous resolutions!

Plan Out Your Goals. No one sets their resolutions with the expectation that they’re going to fail; if that was the case, why bother setting a goal at all? However, many people fail to plan out exactly what they intend to do to achieve their goals. Set aside time to really devote yourself to your desired goals: what are you willing to do to achieve them? What changes are you going to have to make? What will you do each week, day or month in order to reach your goals?

Make Sure It’s What You Really Want. Many people want to lose extra weight or earn buckets of money; however, these aren’t realistic goals, but rather normal fantasies that the average person dreams about. For some, the desire to lose weight or make more money isn’t strong enough to actually warrant any action. Make sure that you really want your goal before devoting time to planning for it. If you’re not invested in reaching your goal, you’ll give up faster than you can say “Happy New Year”.

Be Held Accountable. Want a surefire way to make sure that you stick to your goals? Tell a friend or a loved one about your goal and enlist their support to help you achieve it. For example, if you want to attend the gym three times a week, have a friend go with you for that extra boost. If you know that other people are keeping track of you, you’ll be more likely to stick to your plan and attain that goal!

Give Yourself Rewards. Positive reinforcement is often one of the most powerful motivational tools that you can use to achieve your goal. If you want to lose five pounds, give yourself a small treat for every pound that you lose. Buy a great new outfit or treat yourself to a movie; whatever the reward may be, it will give you an extra motivational boost in reaching your desired goal.

Sticking to your goals doesn’t have to be difficult; in fact, if you use these tips and tricks, you’ll find it incredibly simple to achieve your desired goal, no matter what it may be. So don’t wait until New Year’s Eve to set those life-changing resolutions – make the decision to start down the path towards your dream goals right now!