New Year, New Me, right? The start of not only a new year but a new decade is the perfect time to set goals and strive to reach them each day. I know for some people it can be hard to stick to the goals that they set with so much ambition back in January. John C. Norcross a professor at the University of Scranton has studied resolutions for decades. His study shows that 40% of Americans set resolutions around January 1st, but 40% of them will be successful at six months.
Here are some tips to start 2020 off strong:
Make it Specific:
You need a plan of action in order to find the best success. Saying you want to get in good shape is too broad of a goal. You need to be specific. Instead of getting in good shape it is “I want to go to the gym 4 days a week after work.” This will allow you to hold yourself accountable. If you want to eat better, tell yourself that you will have a fruit or vegetable at every meal.
Be Realistic:
One of the easiest ways to let yourself down this year is by setting goals that are too far out of reach. Some resolutions may sound great, but they are just not attainable. Instead of “I will make 1 million dollars this year” think “I will work hard to earn a substantial raise.” If you shoot too high it is likely you won’t get there or be able to appreciate the victories along the way.
You will screw up, and that is okay:
Sometimes it can be extremely hard, even impossible to steer clear of certain things. You cannot let a slip up steer you off course! You may have to miss a workout due to a work event, or it’s your best friend’s birthday and all they want is to eat pizza. Let yourself have it, and get back on track the next day. Don’t beat yourself up about slipping, that will only make it harder for you to get back into the swing of things.