January is the month of New Year’s resolutions which can range from eating more healthily to changing career or having a better work/life balance.
Regardless of whether your goal is personal or professional, creating new habits that will help you achieve it will take time and energy. It’s hardly surprising that come Spring most people have abandoned their resolutions and have reverted to their old ways. If you want 2019 to be your year, these tips will make your New Year’s resolutions stick.
Know your ‘why’
The ‘why’s’ are the reasons for making your resolutions in the first place so they are what should help you keep going even when the road gets bumpy. When you’re considering a change, take time to think it through and think about why you want to commit to it and how it will change your day to day life for the better. Make this the foundation of your new behaviour and always refer back to it when you’re feeling overwhelmed or toying with the idea of giving up.
Keep a checklist
Make yourself accountable by breaking down the steps you need to take to achieve your goal and keeping a list of them. When it comes to the steps acknowledge that even the smallest step forward is bringing you closer to what you set out to do. Don’t think that the easy steps are a waste of time, instead see them as contributing to the bigger picture so they are just as worthwhile as the more challenging tasks.
Share your journey
Boost your confidence and motivation by sharing your small successes along the way with other people. You don’t have to wait until you have achieved your goal to give yourself a medal and shout about it from the roof tops. Encourage yourself to keep at it by pausing to acknowledge success as you tick off small and big steps en route to a goal and celebrate those milestones with those who care about you.
Use incentives
People who use incentives and reward themselves along the way are more likely to enjoy the process of working towards their goals than those who don’t. If for example your resolution is to be more active during your workday instead of being sat on your desk all day long then set a goal of how many times a day you want to get up for a short walk or some light stretching. Find a reward system that works for you, whether it’s putting a set amount of money away for a treat at the end of the month or booking a relaxing massage. Whatever works for you.
Use failure to your advantage
You may think failing along the way is a major setback but if you approach it and deal with negative emotions with the right mindset, you will be more likely to learn from your mistakes and bounce back. Examine why you failed and what could you have done to avoid it, this will teach you a lesson about the future and will help you steer clear of making the same mistake twice. Use your frustration to give yourself a second chance and use it as fuel for your persistence.
In the words of Winston Churchill, Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
Cleanhome UK News 