It is the start of a New Year! Grandiose Plans! You have so many changes planned, well not exactly planned but the vague concept is there. I won’t do “that” anymore. I will do more of “this” from now on.
I will be Bigger, Stronger, Braver…….This year I will actually accomplish all my resolutions. It is a New Year, hear me ROAR!!
And then, somehow life seems to get in the way. Our great ideas, our willpower, our promises seem to little by little escape our grasp.
WHY?
Great Intentions are a wonderful start but if you want to achieve a goal you need four things, at minimum.
Number one is a precise and realistic goal. You need to know exactly what you are aiming for. “I will lose weight” is an idea but not a goal. “I am going to lose 25 pounds” or “My goal weight is 174 pounds” are precise. Are they realistic? That has to be your decision, but picking a realistic goal greatly increases your odds of accomplishment and who says you can’t pick a new goal as soon as you accomplish this one?
Number two is a plan. If we stick to our weight lose scenario we realize that it requires one of two things (or both), less intake (eat less) or more outlay (exercise more), to reach our goal. If we do not design and stick to a plan the odds of reaching our goal are a long shot at best.
Number three is ongoing measurement. When we want to go someplace we must know where we are, where we want to go and keep track of where we are along the way. You must have a system in place to keep you on track to achieving your goals. It doesn’t need to be a fancy system but tracking keeps you on track. Some of the goals I am most proud of having accomplished were tracked with a piece of paper taped to my mirror and checked on daily.
Number four is celebration. It is amazing how celebrating your successes reinforces the habits that helped you achieve them. Celebrate the big accomplishments and the little ones.
I know these four steps seem very basic and easy, but it is in the basic and easy that we succeed or fail.
I wish you good luck and hope these four simple steps will help you make 2011 your best year yet.