As the new year is approaching and the last days of 2023 are playing out, it is important to begin reflecting on everything you’ve accomplished. Simultaneously, it is beneficial to craft a plan for 2024, a detailed list of your goals to follow throughout the year in pursuit of success. This is your New Year’s resolution. Below is a collection of tips to make your resolution as effective as possible.
Be Realistic
When crafting your resolution, it is important to remember that your ultimate goal must be realistic and aligned with your capabilities. Although motivation can drive you forward tremendously, creating too many resolutions or choosing one that is too challenging can impede your success. Pick something that will push yourself, but that is also possible to achieve.
Make a Plan
First envision your goal and what your life will look like when you reach it, then trace your life backwards until you get back to today. Mark down every milestone you would have to hit along the way and how you will do so.
Write it Down
People are typically more likely to complete a task that they have physically written down on paper, meaning that your New Year’s resolution should be written down someplace for encouragement. This written goal can be placed on your desk, your fridge, or even in your phone case!
Commit to your Resolution
To start, the only way to reach any goal is to believe it to be possible in the first place. Initial doubt will only hinder success. It is also important to share your resolutions with your friends and family so that they can hold you accountable if and when it is needed.
Be Patient
It is important to remember that you can not predict how your life will shape itself upon the commencement of the new year. If you took the proper time to craft your resolution, then it should be made early on either before or soon after January 1st, meaning that there is ample time for unexpected events to occur. Allow yourself to be flexible and mold your resolution milestones to fit your life conditions when necessary. However, it is also crucial for you to try to anticipate potential issues you could encounter in your efforts to complete the goal and to plan out ways to work around them.
Track your Progress
Monitoring when each milestone is completed can help to motivate you as you see the success of even the smallest aspects of your goal as they work to paint the entire picture. Using a resolution journal can offer points of reflection into potential times when you felt like giving up or challenges you’ve overcome. Setting reminders on your phone can also aid in the tracking and completion of each step of your New Year’s resolution process.
Allow Yourself to be Rewarded
Not only should you plan a celebration upon completing your resolution, but you should also grant yourself smaller rewards for completing milestones to boost your confidence and motivation.
A new year is a chance for a fresh start and resolutions are one way to encourage positive change in your life. Craft them thoughtfully and best of wishes for their fulfillment. Happy New Year!
