I don’t know about y’all, but now is about the time I start to say to myself “what was I thinking in January?” – not only about the goals I set, but the timeframe I thought I could complete them in. Over-eager, much?
This tale is as old as time… you set resolutions or goals in January, when you feel hopeful and excited about the new year. Then, real life hits. And maybe you don’t get up for that 6am workout class, or maybe you have to order pizza for dinner to save time, or maybeeee you did great in January, but now your motivation is starting to lag.
Let me tell you, we get it! And to help with getting back (or staying) on track and being consistent all year long, we have a few tips to share. Make note of them, try a few out, and let us know what works for you!
Get Specific with Your Goals
Don’t just write “lost weight” and think that’ll be enough to get you out of bed at 6am! Take time to really think through each goal so you can be specific about what exactly you want to do and make a plan for how to achieve it. Maybe “lose weight” turns into “workout 4 times per week” and “hit 5000 steps per day” – and those are definitely achievable!
Know Your Why
Just having a list of what you want to do without adding your why to it is a recipe for lack of motivation. Make a little space in your schedule to go through each New Year’s Goal and think about why you want to achieve that – how would you feel? What is the reason for achieving it? How will this help you? Knowing your why will help keep you motivated throughout the year!
Take Small Steps
Writing big goals is natural for most of us, but the key in being successful is to break that big goal down into actionable steps that would make it more possible for you to achieve. Then tackle just one of those smaller goals at a time. Instead of saying “eat healthier”, break that down into “eating out only once per week”, then add in “reducing portion size” once you’ve mastered that. Small steps add up to big success.
Make a Goal Tracker
I don’t know about y’all, but checking things off a list is a huge motivator for me! There’s something so satisfying about marking off what you’ve done. So, I like to use a habit tracker when I’m trying to incorporate a new habit or healthy routine. You can create your own in a journal, your personal planner, or online – I personally love Notion (a productivity software) that has a mobile app and can be accessed on the computer – whatever is easiest for you! Write out the daily habits that will help you achieve your goals, then mark them off each day.
Use the Buddy System
Yeah, yeah, we know. Everyone says this! But that’s because it works. Having a buddy hold you accountable for workouts or healthy eating or reading that next book on your list makes it a lot more likely that you’ll be successful. And hey, we can’t deny how much better it feels to struggle through a workout with someone at 6am, rather than on your own. So don’t be afraid to recruit a friend or family member to join you! You never know, they might just have the same goals (and need for renewed motivation) as you.
