Last Updated on 2016-05-19 , 1:53 pm
Have you ever made one of those notorious New Year resolutions, only to find that you’ve completely messed them up even before the month is over? Well, you’re not alone as the numbers definitely show that most people never fulfil even one of their annual goals. Most people find that they’ve lost the motivation to pursue resolutions very early on, and some lose steam along the way.
So what ARE the secret of setting goals that are reachable yet productive? The answers are much simpler than you expect. Here they are:
Set Goals over a Timeline
Don’t just set a general goal and tell yourself to achieve it by December. Instead, set smaller objectives for each month and build upon them as time goes along. For example, if you plan to start exercising, start humble and small, say only 5 minutes a day for the first month, then increase it to 10, 15, 20 minutes and longer.
Define your Motivation
Just telling yourself that you need to do this isn’t enough. You have to know what the benefits are and what the rewards are after you’ve achieved your goal. Use these benefits or rewards as a source of motivation.
Be Flexible With Your Goals
Revisit and reflect on your goals from time to time and if you need to, modify your goals. This doesn’t mean you reduce or eliminate your goals, but a way to make sure you achieve something in the year rather than giving up completely.
Use the S.M.A.R.T Strategy
In this method, you have to ensure that all your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely. In general, this means that you have to have goals that are practical, and one you can easily keep track of. You also need to know your limits so you don’t set goals that are beyond your capacity.
Don’t Be Too Hard on Yourself
Whenever you find that you’ve failed to achieve something, don’t beat yourself up and stay discouraged. Pick yourself up, and start on the path again. You have to remember that the struggle is a journey, not a jump.
Start with Only One Goal
Rather than being ambitious and setting too many goals at once, start with only one goal and work towards it. Having one goal that is productive is better than making 10 goals which don’t work out.
Commit to your Goals Publicly
It helps to announce your goals to the people you trust, and even on social media if you’re comfortable. This will give you fewer excuses to back down and disappear if things don’t work out as you’re accountable for your actions.
Post Your Goals Up
Having visual reminders of what you need to achieve is one of the best ways to motivate yourself to do what you need to do. Print or write down your goals, and hang it up in places where you can see it every day.
Get a Mentor or Partner
Having someone to check up on your progress is essential for you to achieve your goals effectively. You’ll find that you can benefit a lot from somebody else’s experience, and thrive on their words of encouragement.
Stay Positive and Optimistic
Always tell yourself you have the ability to achieve what you set out to do, and a few failures don’t define you. In essence, whether you fail or succeed, you are still a treasured and important human being, loved by many.
Top Image: szefei / Shutterstock.com
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