Every year, many of us make resolutions with the best of intentions. We want to finally take that yoga class or start a new side hustle or learn a foreign language—but unfortunately, it can be difficult to follow through on these resolutions and achieve our goals. The key? Setting specific and measurable goals—and following through on them.
Start by Writing Things Down
It sounds simple, but writing your goals down is an important first step in achieving them. This process is not only helpful for organizing your thoughts but also serves as a tangible reminder of what you are trying to accomplish. Writing out your goals will help you stay focused and motivated when you encounter obstacles along the way. Additionally, it’s important to set goals that are both specific and measurable so you can track your progress over time. For example, if your resolution is to “eat healthier," consider setting concrete steps such as cutting out sugary drinks or reducing fast food consumption by two meals per week.
Make a Plan & Create Milestones
Once you have identified specific, measurable objectives for yourself, it’s time to create an actionable plan for achieving them! Start by breaking up large tasks into smaller ones—you may find yourself overwhelmed if you try to tackle too much at once. Additionally, create milestones along the way so you can monitor and celebrate your progress as you work toward your long-term goal . For example, if one of your resolutions is to write a book this year, break up the process into smaller tasks like writing one chapter per month or completing 1 page of notes per day. When it comes to staying on track with our resolutions, having achievable milestones helps keep us motivated throughout the journey!
Be Accountable & Celebrate Small Victories
Another great way to stay on track with our New Year’s resolutions is by being accountable! Ask friends or family members to check in with you periodically throughout the year in order to ensure that you remain focused and keep working towards your goal. It's also important to celebrate small victories along the way—acknowledging even minor successes can be an effective source of motivation when it comes time for bigger accomplishments! Finally, don't forget that mistakes happen—it's totally okay if things don't go according to plan every now and then! Just pick yourself up and keep going!
Setting New Year’s resolutions can be daunting; however, breaking down large objectives into smaller tasks allows us to better manage our expectations while keeping ourselves accountable throughout the process. By making sure our goals are specific and measurable we can track our progress over time and maintain focus on what we want to accomplish this year. While there are always bumps in the road during any journey towards personal growth—don’t forget that acknowledging small successes along the way may just be what keeps us going until we reach our ultimate destination. Happy New Year everyone!
Northeast Missouri Health Council, Partners for a lifetime of health
Medical, Dental, and Behavioral Clinics in Kirksville, Missouri, Macon, Missouri, Milan, Missouri, and Kahoka, Missouri. Visit our website to find the nearest clinic to you. www.nemohealthcouncil.com