By: Daniel Sullivan, LPC
Well, it’s almost that time of year again. Out with the old and in with the new. A time when many individuals begin to set their New Year’s Resolutions. The question is, how many of the 2015 resolutions are yet to be achieved?
It is likely that many if not most of the resolutions which were set at the beginning of 2015 never went past the six-week bench mark. Thus, going into 2016 I thought I’d offer some simple tips for accomplishing the resolutions which you set. Hopefully, after implementing these simple tips you will move forward in achievement of your goals, and who knows you might even find some fun while getting there.
Perhaps you would like to lose a few pounds. Stare slow don’t start by setting an astronomical goal (i.e. “I want to lose 200 lbs.”). While this may be achievable if you take the next year off from every other commitment in your life, you have to make goals that are achievable, hence start with a small number and then as each pound is shed, push yourself a little further.
Maybe you would like to improve a relationship with a friend. Start by setting up a coffee date, place it on your calendar and then meet with your friend. However, setting a goal of meeting with this friend every week for the rest of the year may be a little far-fetched. However, start with a simple task feels much better when you start to see your goals achieved.
Whatever your resolutions might be, keep it simple.
2) Set Resolutions that have an end result of both internal and external growth. Often we set resolutions which are more physical in nature. Perhaps this is the year where you work on your emotional health. Maybe you would like to feel less depressed or anxious. Perhaps you would like to be calmer or happier. Whatever your emotional growth resolution it may be related to other areas of our life such as feeling unfulfilled in our jobs or losing a connection with a friend or loved one. Whatever the emotional state may be which you would like to achieve, start by assessing the environment around you. Perhaps change is in order. The end result is likely to be emotional growth.
3) Commit to achieving your goals. Simply put if you find that you are not achieving your goal, reassess your goal and alter it so that the resolution you set is both simple and achievable. Isn’t it better that you change or alter your goal, rather than ending your 2016 with another year of unattained goals?
4) Ask for help. While we all would like to think we can achieve success on our own, often linking with someone you can trust is a way in which you are more likely to achieve your resolutions. Seeing emotional and physical growth is not a one-person job. It often takes the expertise and accountability of others to help you achieve your resolutions.
Maybe this is the year you hire a life coach, someone who can help you push past all of the clutter and really begin moving your life, career, education, or relationships in a forward momentum.
Perhaps, you hire a counselor to help you work through the emotional barriers that have held you back all these years. Whatever your resolution may be, initiate the help of professionals who can keep you accountable and have the expertise to help you achieve your resolutions.
5) Celebrate your achievements. You work hard to achieve your resolutions so make sure you celebrate when you achieve all or even part of your goals. It is important to recognize with someone that you care about the great success that you are having. So go ahead and celebrate each step along the way.
There you have it. 5-simple tools to help you achieve your 2016 New Year’s Resolutions. Don’t wait until the beginning of the year to begin your planning start right now.
