The holiday season is fast approaching—and with that comes preparation for 2016, including setting new goals for the new year.
We all have goals for the new year but making the commitment to see them through for the next 12 months can be extremely difficult. Here are some ways to help you stay focused and achieve your goals.
There’s no better way to get the process going than writing down exactly what you want to accomplish. Think of this like your bucket list—feel free to write down each big and small goal you can think of. Not only will this serve as motivation, but it will also reinforce the idea that you have to work hard to make your goal a reality.
2. Envision it
Picture yourself accomplishing your goal and it will help you battle all obstacles that may stand in your way. When you are able to see yourself at the finish line, the goal becomes tangible and in a way acts as a motivation for you. If it’s losing weight or getting fit for the new year, picture yourself in a slimmer body and that vision will act as a focal point to keeping you trained on the finish line.
3. Set a date
Instead of using the word ‘deadline’—which can come across as a daunting date by which you must accomplish your goals or the world will stop—set a flexible target date. It’s very common for people to push goals away once time begins to pass by. Having a date set in stone will serve as another guideline to keep you focused on seeing that goal come to fruition.
4. Create smaller goals
It can be pretty defeating to have a goal that is too big to complete all at once and takes more time to do so than a smaller goal. Often times, people lose track of the bigger goals because it seems impossible to achieve.
If you’ve done this in the past, try a different method and break your goal into smaller ones. If your dream of traveling to Europe seems so far away because of a lack of funds, for example, start planning milestone goals, such as saving up $200, then $500, and so forth. This way, not only will you feel like you are making progress, but you will actually be getting closer to your goal.
5. Document your progress
Focusing on the finish line can get extremely distracting. Enjoy the journey and take your time to reach your goal. A journal is a great way to keep track of the various emotions and setbacks that may happen along the way.
6. Share your goals
Spread the word and be completely open to the world about achieving your goals. Announce your intention and it will act as a way of manifesting your goal to life.
Along with hard work, acting as if you are en route to accomplishing your goal will speed up the process. Also, when you share your goals with others, you are declaring clear intent to make it happen—and they can help keep you accountable to that intent. You may even be surprised at the amount of support you will receive from your fellow peers and loved ones. Plus, by sharing your goals you never know who can join you on the journey to help you achieve the goal or even introduce you to other ways of accomplishing it!
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