There is no better time than now to start the year off right.
You get excited to make changes like eating better, exercising, saving money, or finally starting that side gig you’ve been thinking about.
You feel pumped and ready. Then before you know it, things start to fizzle. You skip that trip to the gym, the money you said you would save is now being used for a fun night out, or that side gig seems impossible.
If this sounds like you, you’re not alone.
Every year millions of people make resolutions, and many give up on them within the first week.
So, why do they fail? It’s because most people are not ready to commit and give up because they either lose motivation or have not prioritized their goals. It’s not enough to just say “I want to lose weight, or I want to save more money.”
If you are serious about making changes, follow these steps to help you move in the right direction.
First, try to deeply understand why you want to change.
What is your motivation? Why is it necessary to change? Focus on behavioral changes. We all want to achieve things quickly.
Wouldn’t it be great if after one day of eating healthy and exercising, we see a loss on the scale? Unfortunately, that’s not realistic.
Write your goals down.
Did you know that people who write their goals down have a better chance of achieving them? Writing compels you to organize your thoughts differently, which clarifies your goals.
Develop a routine.
A routine is an action or multiple actions that you take consistently, often at a set time.
One example would be, automatically transferring money from your checking to an investment account every Friday.
The benefit of a routine is that it consists of habits. You just do it simply because you always do, regardless of willpower.
Set small and realistic goals. If you don’t, you may start to feel anxious.
Short-term goals help you to break up big goals into smaller chunks. This will give you a sense of achievement along the way, which boosts your motivation.
For example, let’s say you want to save $5,000 this year. That can seem daunting and unattainable. But try to break it down like this: I will save $416 this month and will transfer $96 into my savings every pay period (if you get paid weekly). That seems a lot more doable then saving $5,000, but will equal to the same amount.
You may ask yourself... "Why do I need goals?”
There’s this famous quote by Benjamin Franklin that I love.
“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” It is extremely difficult to succeed in anything without planning. If you want to increase focus, increase motivation, and improve confidence, goal setting is a must.
Three things to remember through this process is:
Just because you are struggling, does not mean you are failing. Every great success requires struggle to get there.
Hang in there and if you need help or motivation, call, text, or email today.
Happy New Year!
