Easy Step-by-Step New Years Resolution Guide
So it’s that time of year again, the exciting days before the iconic countdown where fireworks blast nationwide to greet the new year. But this year feels different- determination has swept over and it’s time for the perfect, thought-out resolution to motivate throughout the entire year. It needs to be specific, reachable and worthy of a better you, but where to start?
As you babes know, I am very keen on goal setting. I don’t just do a 5 year, 1 year and 3 month goal (most people don’t even do that), I also do a monthly goal and weekly goal to keep myself on track. This has helped me prioritize and baby step myself into a better me- personally, between my relationships, flourish in my career and financially keep me on track. I have grown so much in every aspect of my life, now it’s your turn to see the huge return this small investment makes. I want to throw some tips on how to create a resolution, or one year goal, that will help you achieve the next level of success through this easy, step-by-step guide to creating (and completing) a New Years Resolution.
FIRST STEP
Make a list. A long list.
Writing down, or having a brainstorm session, has multiple benefits. It clarifies your goals by specifically evaluating them as you write. It creates a sense of importance and leaves a stream of thoughts- the more specific you are, the more beneficial it is. To start, create a list of different things you want out of 2020. This should be as detailed as possible with specific, measurable desires (example: you want to lose weight. How much? I want to lose 25 pounds in one year, or 2-3 pounds a month). I like to use categories to keep my creative juices flowing: Physically, personally, relationships, career, financially.
DONT THROW THIS AWAY! One key benefit of writing down goals is that it can keep you motivated, especially if you refer back to it. Even if you don’t choose something to be your resolution, it is great to keep it at the top of your subconscious so you can continue to flourish in not one, but as many ways possible. Go back to this list throughout the year and remind yourself what you want.
EXAMPLE
Physically
-I want my hips to grow 1 inch in muscle
- I want my skin to be acne free from not picking my face
-I want to focus more on a vegetarian lifestyle
Personally
-I want to read one book per month minimum
-I want to take at least 1 hour per week to journal my thoughts
-I want to pinpoint my stress triggers and find ways to cope better
Relationships
-I want to work on being more consistent with my 5 best friends
-I want to become closer to my grandparents by calling, visiting and doing more things together
-I want to be a better partner by doing therapy monthly
Career
-I want to be published in 2 major magazines
-I want to improve my clientele by networking every month
-I want to sign with an agency in another country
Financially
-I want to invest $10,000 in something I am passionate about
-I want to balance my finances so I can afford a newer, nicer car
-I want to save $1000/month minimum
After all of your wants for 2020 have been jotted down in a notebook, start to prioritize them. Think about what would impact you the most. What would make you ultimately proud and fulfilled if you complete this resolution. You can pick one from each category as you’re one year goalS (yes, plural; I think this is the most beneficial, that means one goal per category) or, start small and choose one out of all the categories that really stands out as most important. Underline it twice. There you go!
You have successfully chosen you’re 2020 NYR!!!
But that was the easiest part. The reason 98% of people don’t complete or accomplish their resolution is because they never do anything past this step. In order to make a dream come to reality what do we do? Dream more? Pray? Hope the opportunity comes? Nope.
SECOND STEP
We make a game plan.
This is the most important aspect of ANY goal. If you haven’t practiced goal setting, this is the guts of it. Without it, your resolution won’t survive. It’s vital that you break your goal down into little bits and pieces until you can’t anymore, then rebuild it back up. What I mean by this is inspecting it from every angle, envisioning what this goal entails day to day, week to week, month to month and figuring out what self discipline you have to make it happen. How can you properly reward yourself so you will continue? What will you do if you get off track? Who can you include in this resolution that will help you, influence you and support you? Who can you avoid that will stall the goal from being completed? These types of questions keep the goal in check, keep you motivated and promise at least serious headway-if not completing this resolution.
Lets take for example that I chose investing $10,000 into something I am passionate about for my 2020 resolution. Next, I would consider what I needed to do every month to take me closer to that goal-
January. Research and locate 5 top investments. List each of their pros and cons.
February. Create a financial plan to have $10,000 liquidated by June.
March. Sit down with a financial advisor and get advice. What do they think is the wisest investment and why?
April. Read nightly different investment books about my topic. Choose final investment from 5.
May. Locate an advisor or create a plan to get investment done properly independanntly.
June. Test $1000 in the market I am interested in, study it for the next two months.
July. Study investment and take notes.
August. Decide if this is the correct investment, follow up with financial advisor and brainstorm.
September. Take notes on what I’ve learned so far, make changes to investment.
October. Liquidate remaining $9,000
November. Place remaining money in correct investment.
December. Resolution completed!
THIRD STEP
Keep yourself motivated.
The final juice to this easy resolution guide is to know yourself, and keep motivated. How? I personally keep motivated by:
-Referring back to notes and reminding myself why I started.
-Talk to friends and family around, describing what the resolution is and speak passionately about it. Give all the details! The benefits of talking about what you are doing is enormous! It keeps you responsible for the goal because friends will ask how it’s going. Saying it outloud shows you are dedicated and ready. Your friends can help and family will too. Keep them in the goal WITH you!
-I love to reward myself for good habits I am creating. Take yourself to your favorite sushi spot. Go on your favorite hike. Have a glass of wine. Tell yourself how amazing you are! Hype yourself up over and over again.
-if you get off track, don’t give up. Simply restrategize and game plan what you can do from here forward! If you want it bad enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen. Hold yourself accountable (don’t self deprecate though) and keep moving. Every step is so powerful! Build momentum and run with this newer, better YOU!
If you don’t complete your resolution?
WHO F**KING CARES. Ok well, do care. But you know what I mean. Don’t be hard on yourself.
Did you try your absolute hardest?
If yes, then let it go. You’re doing the best you can honey :)
If no, hold yourself responsible. Why didn’t you try hard enough? Is there something you can change for this next year to make sure you DON’T fail? Make a list of those things and set yourself up for success.