Why do we do New Year’s resolutions? They drive us crazy!
Because ultimately, the intentions behind them are inspiring and well-intended. So this year, let’s (yes, myself included)- let’s do them!
It doesn’t matter if you dropped your goals months ago, dig them out and dust them off!
Now’s the perfect opportunity for you (yes YOU!) to reignite that initial spark of motivation and take some tangible steps towards achieving what you set out to do.
And if you can’t find them, make a new list- here is your free 2023 New Year’s Resolution Package, courtesy of Ledoux Lagoon. Simply download and print or fill in and save (PDF).
In this blog post we’ll look at:
- Celebrating your progress
- Re-setting realistic goals
- Milestones and mini-goals
- Timelines
- Roadblocks
- Motivational tactics
Celebrating Your Progress
So now’s the time we reflect on the goals we set for ourselves in January and assess our progress.
Have a look at your goals, and figure out:
- Which are finished and can be crossed off?
- How close am I to achieving the others?
- Are some half-finished?
- Are the goals still realistic for achieving this year?
- Which ones can still be completed?
- What specific goals will you prioritize from this point on?
- Do you want to add any new ones?
While it’s important to acknowledge the areas where we might have fallen short, it’s equally important to celebrate the progress we’ve made.
Maybe you didn’t work out every day but added more exercise to your life in general- or maybe you didn’t save as much as you wanted, but you cut back on impulse spending.
By acknowledging your progress, you’ll feel motivated to push forward and re-invigorate your remaining goals.
So take a moment to feel good about yourself, grab a coffee and your resolutions list, and get back to becoming the best version of yourself!
Re-setting Realistic Goals
Re-setting your goals is an important first step for establishing how you want to move forward.
Because once you know which goals to move forward with, it can be overwhelming if they seem insurmountable- which is why you might’ve abandoned them in the first place.
So breaking your goals down into smaller, more manageable tasks is a great strategy. For example, if your New Year’s resolution was to:
- Read more books. Break it down- read for 10 minutes a day, or “read” an audiobook when you’re doing mundane tasks.
- Start a new business. Break it down- research the market, write a business plan, etc.
- Get healthy. Start by setting a goal of eating two more servings of vegetables each day.
This allows you to make progress one step at a time, rather than feeling discouraged by the enormity of the end goal.
And it makes them achievable.
Milestones and Mini-Goals
Mini-goals are similar to breaking down larger goals into smaller, more palatable bits- like what was mentioned just above, or, they can be exactly that- mini-goals.
Maybe your resolutions this year declared that you’re going to pamper yourself more- and it hasn’t been happening!!!
The answer can lie in concrete, tangible mini-goals. Maybe you:
- Budget for a monthly or bi/monthly self-care purchase like a beauty product, a wardrobe piece, or a mini-beauty fridge and calendar it in.
- Set a monthly date for a DIY at-home hair spa
- Join a book club or other stress-reducing (gardening?) club that meets monthly
Ledoux Lagoon’s 2023 New Year’s Resolution Package has a mini-goal list for each month of the year for precisely this reason!
By breaking down your main goals into smaller mini-goals and tracking them- they’re easier to accomplish and become MILESTONES!
And you can check them off!
It’ll give you a burst of satisfaction and encouragement to keep pushing forward.
Planning out milestones can help you stay organized and focused, making it easier to chip away at the larger goal one step at a time.
Create a Timeline
Writing it down makes it far more likely to happen, so it’s really important to write down your goals and give them a realistic timeline.
A timeline helps you prioritize and make the most of your time, while also allowing you to map out your progress and keep track of your accomplishments.
For example, if your plan was to start a business and it’s not going as planned- simply re-invigorate and write a new timeline:
- Spend June researching the market and writing a plan;
- July should involve finding potential investors or funding sources;
- August through November can be used to build or develop the product or service;
- December is for perfecting marketing strategies, etc.
No matter how big, small, simple, or complex the goal is, map out a timeline.
Identify Roadblocks
The path to success is rarely a smooth one. There’s always going to be hurdles, roadblocks, and obstacles. That’s just life!
But identifying roadblocks along the way is crucial to avoid getting stuck or derailed. Some challenges can include:
- Lack of Focus or Time
- Lack of Support or Financial Resources
- Unrealistic Expectations
- Fear of Change and Growth
- Self-Doubt
- Negative Thinking Patterns and Habits
- Low Energy Levels or Motivation
- Poor Health
Once you identify potential roadblocks, it becomes easier to develop strategies for overcoming them.
For example, if you find yourself:
- Lacking motivation– reward yourself for completing smaller tasks, or do 15-minute bursts of exercise.
- Set reminders– our lives are busy. To help stay on track, use your calendars (online or paper), apps, or even your alarms.
- Budget– money can be a huge stressor for accomplishing/influencing goals. Get your financial house in order, and search for free or cheaper alternatives.
- Assess your schedule to see if you’re being “time-inefficient” and see where you can improve.
By proactively tackling potential challenges before they become insurmountable, you can keep moving forward, even when things feel tough.
Motivational Tactics for Success
It can be so discouraging to have dreams of achieving great things in life, but struggling to translate those aspirations into action.
Here are some quick tips for motivational tactics for achieving success:
1. Create a vision board with all of your goals and aspirations. A visual reminder is great for staying inspired.
2. Talk to yourself in the third person- telling yourself, “You can do it” can be surprisingly motivating.
3. Make a list- of anything! Small, achievable steps will get you closer to achieving yo’ dreams.
4. Use positive affirmations as mantras– repeating something long enough will manifest in your actions and behaviors.
5. Pray- whatever your belief, and even acknowledging your gratitude within yourself is enough to reset your mind and feelings for the better.
6. Get an accountability buddy– having someone to check in with consistently can be a great source of motivation.
7. Surround yourself with inspiring, successful people- their enthusiasm and energy are contagious.
8. Take breaks to recharge and refocus- allow yourself time off from your goals so you don’t burn out and become discouraged.
9. Acknowledge setbacks and don’t let them derail you- it’s inevitable that things will go wrong, but use these moments as learning experiences and move on.
10. Breathe– no, really. Look into proper breathing techniques- it’ll help.
And if you’re lucky enough to have supportive family and friends, –their encouragement can make all the difference in helping you stay motivated and focused.
With the right mindset and support system in place, there’s no limit to what you can achieve.
Conclusion
Now that we’ve discussed the importance of refreshing your resolutions and celebrating progress, there is only one thing left to do: create an action plan!
We have all the knowledge and inspiration, now it’s time to make a plan for current and future goals.
Making a plan will help you stay on track for success.
Take some time this week to craft an action plan that inspires you and puts you in control of your future successes.
Define what success looks like for you and then discover solutions for your obstacles—whether that means carving out extra time in your schedule or relying on resources from friends or family.
Whatever barriers come up, there are always solutions waiting to be discovered. With a strong action plan in place and consistent motivation, anything is possible 🙂