We all set new year’s resolutions year after year, wanting to make next year our best year yet, reach our goals and ensure that we make the changes we want to make.
But after a few weeks (or days ) you lose the motivation to keep them up and go back to your normal routine. Now there is nothing wrong with not sticking to your goals, we are all guilty of it, but we’ve put together some tips and tricks that will help you to start your nu: year effectively.
Top Tip Number 1 – Be Realistic
Be realistic about your goals/resolutions! Rome wasn't built in a day! 2023 is going to be your year full of you achieving your biggest dreams – but setting a goal that is realistic is the first step to ensuring you start your year effectively. There is no worst feeling than setting a goal that is not achievable and facing that inevitable failure, before you have given yourself a chance to build up to that goal. Start with something realistic so that you can ensure you stick to it/reach it and this will carry you through to achieving your next goal!
Top Tip Number 2 – Be Specific
Be specific with what you want to achieve and how you want to achieve it. With a vague new year’s resolution, you are bound to lose motivation and not make the progress that you want to see. Instead, try and make your new year’s resolution detailed and process focused, instead of basing your success on an outcome. This way, you will feel more fulfilled and have a more effective start to your goals!
Top Tip Number 3 – Track Your Progress
It can be very difficult to keep up the progress you’ve made in the first few days/weeks of the year, if you can’t actually see the progress you are making! This is why its so important to track your thoughts, feelings, and challenges you are facing, allowing you to see how far you have come and what you can do better! The more often you track and monitor your progress, the more likely you are to stick to your goals and start your new year as you mean to go on!
Use the nu: goal planner notebook to keep track of your goals and monitor the progress you are making. It’s designed to help you to stick to your goals – click here to check it out.
Top Tip Number 4 – Don’t be too hard on yourself!
It is inevitable that at some point you will fail, or you may not quite hit your goal the way you wanted to, so what do you do if this happens? It is important firstly to say that this is normal, but your progress doesn’t have to stop here! You don’t have to give up at the first hurdle and stop working towards that goal. Don’t be too hard on yourself, you’re only human! So, to ensure that you still effectively start your year right, firstly appreciate the fact you are disappointed but don’t dwell on it for too long. Let’s move that energy towards getting back up and continuing with your goal. It may be, however, that you have realised that the goal you set in the first week of January, is not actually what you want now, and that is also fine! If anything, it is actually a good thing that you have figured out what you don’t want anymore, so instead make a new goal and keep on going. You can always re-evaluate your goals and where you are heading.
New year’s resolutions bring up a common recurring feeling of its either all or nothing. The ‘I am either hitting all of these goals and sticking to my original plan, or I’m not doing it at all’ feeling. But you are continuously making so much progress, even if you can’t see it tangibly straight away.
Strive for progress, not perfection!
Top Tip Number 5 – Make The Date Work For You
There can be a lot of pressure to start your new year on the 1st of January, to ensure that you meet your resolutions on the first day of the year. But this doesn’t have to be the case. If it suits you better, to start building towards your goal on the 5th of January, 19th of January or maybe a completely different month, then do just that! Maybe you have some busy days at the start of the month and the week after is a better time to focus on you or perhaps you want to start your resolution at the start of the week (2nd January?). Whatever you decide, just make sure that it suits you and your own personal circumstances. This way, you will be sure to start your new year effectively!
Check out the nu: undated planner (here) to personalise your planner pages, allowing you to start your resolution on whatever day you choose!
Final Tip Number 6 – Reward Yourself
No matter how small the win may be, make sure you celebrate it. This is the best way to ensure you stay motivated. But most importantly, that you are enjoying the journey! Whether that be rewarding yourself with a gift, or going to do something fun, make sure you celebrate the progress you have made!
We hope you have an amazing start to your nu: year and achieve your wildest dreams!