Making your New Year’s Resolutions is sometimes setting yourself up for failure. Some people are able to buckle down and keep up their determination throughout the year to achieve what they desire. An easier way to achieve the things you want for 2015 though, is to set goals instead of resolutions.
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A resolution is a decision or determination, where as a goal is a desired outcome. A resolution can be achieved by following smaller goals which are more realistic steps than the dramatic change to resolve and setting small goals to achieve keeps up motivation and is more likely to create a positive outcome.
Let’s take a look at how you might go about achieving your goals for 2015:
Weight loss
Weight loss is a difficult journey and it involves perseverance and determination. Set your weight loss goals in small steps, to the 2 or 5 kilogram as these are easier to achieve. Start small and continue to introduce healthy habits into your life such as swapping burgers for salads and soft drink for water. Weight loss isn’t just about hitting the gym, but starting out with a personal trainer is a good way to keep your motivation up and learn great exercises. If you can’t afford a personal trainer, grab a friend or a pet and go for a walk to start off your weight loss journey.
Setting goals throughout the year, just for your health and wellbeing and not a specific event is a great way to keep at it. You can introduce non-food rewards such as a new dress or pair of shoes when you reach a goal writing down your achievements shows you how far you have come.
Quit smoking
Many smokers pledge their will to quit at the new year, especially with pressure from friends and family mounting. We all know that smoking is bad for us and that we shouldn’t do it, but it’s an addiction. However, addictions can be broken, and seeing your doctor is a great first step. They can provide you with techniques and support to curb your habit for good.
Write down the great things about giving up smoking like saving money and being able to take the stairs without puffing, to remind yourself why you gave up your habit. If you don’t make it and your pick up a cigarette, don’t give up! Keep trying and seeking support until you have reached your goal.
Keep your house clean
We all vow to keep our houses clean but sometimes, clothes just happen to end up all over the bed, DVDs get strewn across the floor and crumbs get left on the bench. Getting into the habit of cleaning as you go works wonders, especially for your kitchen. As for other parts of your house, set a couple of hours aside every week to clean up your house. Cleaning as you go also provides a cleaner base to start on so cleaning on your assigned day is also reduced.
Setting reminders to clean up is helpful and getting your partner in on the action can make things a little more fun. Blast some music and scrub away.
Save money
If you’re saving up for a house, a holiday or a car, a great way to start is to divide your money into categories of things you will need to pay for, such as bills, car insurance and quarterly payments. Add a few more categories for things like clothes and holidays and work out how much you would need to put in each week/fortnight/month to save enough that you would need, plus a little extra. Divvy your pay up between categories and after a couple of weeks, you will start to see the difference in how you handle your money.
Making smarter decisions is also a great way to save money, like thinking before you buy and only buying what you need. Investing in a coin box can help save those pesky coins that you use for things like snacks and coffee and trying not to have smaller notes in your wallet can also stop you buying unnecessary items.
Reduce social media
Now this is becoming a resolution for more people as social media sets to take over our life (sort of). Many people miss great moments in life because they are too busy checking their Facebook feed. It takes about 21 days to form a new habit, so here are a few tips you could use to reduce your social media obsession:
- Invest in an alarm clock and have a rule of no phones in the bedroom. This will reduce the amount of time you spend at night scrolling through your social media feeds. Not only will this make your partner happier, but your sleep quality will be increased, with no disruptions from your device
- Resist from using your phone during meals. With our busy lifestyles, we’re often checking Twitter at breakfast and our Instagram at dinner. Put the phone away and enjoy your food and company
- During work breaks, make yourself a tea and try to interact with your colleagues instead of scrolling through your social media feeds
- Read a book or magazine on your way too and from work (if you take public transport), it’ll save your battery and you may learn something new
Images via vulcanpost.com
