Create Goals Instead of Resolutions in 2024
How many times have you made a New Year’s resolution on December 31st at midnight with all the intention of making it a reality? And then, it doesn’t happen. Or you know friends and family who make New Year’s resolutions every year and every year they don’t make them happen. There is a reason for this. We have too many resolutions that aren’t specific which leads to not reaching them. Instead, make goals that are specific. Use these steps to create goals instead of resolutions for 2024.
Only have one goal to work on at a time. Create your list of goals you want to accomplish in 2024. Next, take your list and prioritize it. This allows you to pick the top goal you want to work on first. Depending on the goal and the timeline, you might be able to do a second, or third goal from your list later in the year. The main point, work on only one goal at a time. This allows for maximum success.
Make the goal specific. For example: “I’m going to lose weight this year.” Is that specific? No. It’s a very vague goal without much hope of becoming reality. A better, more specific way to define that goal is: “I’m going to lose 10 lbs. by April 1st of this year.” That is a very specific goal. The amount of weight is defined as well as a timeline. To define it, even more would be: “I’m going to lose 10 lbs. by April 1st of this year by going to the gym 3 days a week.” The more specific you can make your goal the better your chances of making it happen.
Break that goal down into small manageable steps. “I’m going to lose 2 lbs. per month by exercising 3 days a week and cutting out 1 sugary drink per day.” You now have a roadmap of how you’re going to lose the 10 lbs. by April 1st. By breaking the goal down, you reduce the possibility of feeling overwhelmed, which can stop you from reaching your goal. Break it down by months, weeks, or days depending on the goal.
Have someone help you stay accountable. Be it a friend, family member, or co-worker. We all have days when we don’t want to do something. Having that person you can reach out to helps you push through those days and reach your goal.
You will have times when you fall off the “wagon”. That’s just fine. Don’t let that stop you. Acknowledge that you did and then pick back up where you left off. Don’t let that one time keep you from reaching your goal.
Having one goal at a time, making it specific, breaking it down into manageable steps, and having someone help you stay accountable, will help you turn your New Year’s goal into reality.
If you would like help in getting your goal/s set up for success, reach out!