5 Ways to Make your Resolutions a Reality
Author: Angela Lisle
The ball has been dropped in Times Square, and the new year has officially arrived. This season can often be a time of new beginnings and resolutions for many. However, most of those resolutions are often short-lived. So what can you do to avoid dropping the ball with your goals this year?
One of the most important steps to making your intentions become reality is to set attainable goals. Here are 6 ways you can make that happen.
1. Visualize your target
What, specifically, are you aiming for with your resolutions? Do you want to lose 15 pounds, lose 15 pounds by bathing suit season, or lose 1 pound a week for the next 15 weeks? It may sound simple, but if you don’t see a blazing red bullseye when you have your goals in mind, then it can be so much harder to hit the mark rather than nearby bushes or passersby.
2. Make it a thrill
Next, you may want to ensure that your destination is one that is truly tantalizing. In other words, how much of a thrill will you experience when you reach the goal you have set? If you don’t find your end goal particularly motivating, it can be super challenging to achieve. On the other hand, if you plan to wear that flashy, red number on a spectacular upcoming vacation, you might be way more inclined to eat a few more veggies at your next meal if that’s what it takes to make your beach babe or bum goals more tangible.
3. Prioritize your time
It can also be crucial to think about what your current commitments are. What kind of time will you have to devote to this new resolution? If you are working 80 hours a week, you might need to make some adjustments to your schedule to fit in the number of workouts it could take to accomplish your mission. Furthermore, you might need to prioritize differently to reach your objective in a timely manner. For example, is squeezing additional workouts in TRULY more important to you than a bit of extra sleep?
4. Watch out for traps
Besides time, you may encounter other obstacles or detours on the path to your goal. It can be very beneficial to take a minute to analyze what common issues you might encounter so that you can put a plan in place to deal with them. For instance, if you are a stress eater, it’s pretty unlikely that you won’t come up against some notable stressors in the next few months. So you might want to have some non-food stress management skills in your pocket for when that time inevitably comes.
5. Get the training and tools you need to succeed
Finally, and perhaps most critical to success in your journey, let’s talk about what has been achievable for you in the past. Do you have the training and tools you need to reach the target you are aiming for? If you pick a number out of a metaphorical hat when setting your goals, it may not be achievable–or even safe. Stop and ponder where you are coming from, where you are at right now, and where you want to go. With that information in hand, you can often break your goals down into more manageable pieces and reach them sooner than later. In fact, Noom can help with that!
