Happy New Year! I hope you guys had tons of fun celebrating the last of 2018 yesterday. In honor of the new year, I wanted to talk about the infamous New Year’s resolutions! At the beginning of every year, many of us will set resolutions but few will actually keep them. Since I believe it’s extremely important to set both professional and personal goals, I wanted to share some of my tips for how to achieve New Year’s resolutions. I love taking the first week of every year to start thinking about what I want to accomplish and then I write them all down so that I can track them throughout the year. This usually makes them easier to manage – and more realistic to achieve. If you need a little inspiration for sticking to your resolutions for 2019, read ahead!
1. Set specific resolutions (and write them down)
One of the best things I learned in my corporate job was really learning how to set goals. There was always a huge emphasis on setting specific goals that can be measured and writing them down. I’ve always taken that lesson with me and applied them to my personal goals and resolutions. I stress writing them down because studies have shown that those who write down their goals feel a greater sense of accountability and are more likely to accomplish them. The more specific you are, the easier it is to stay focused on what you have to do to succeed. For example, if your goal is to save money, get clear by setting a specific dollar amount – or if you want to lose weight, know how much you want to lose.
2. Break them down into smaller achievable tasks
Once you have your resolutions in place, break them down into smaller and more realistic tasks. Since most of our goals tend to stretch ourselves (which is a great thing by the way), it’s easier to achieve them if you break them down into mini goals and can see the level of commitment they require. Back to my original example of saving money – saving $5,000 seems much more achievable when you break it down to $420/month – or even $100/week. If you have a hard time sticking to your resolutions, I recommend breaking them down into quarterly, monthly, then weekly tasks – and then focusing on the weekly ones. It is much easier to take baby steps than one big leap.
3. Put a timeframe on them
Always put a timeframe on your goals and find a way to determine when you have achieved them. Having a deadline on your goals stimulate urgency and can motivate action. By knowing you need to accomplish something in a particular timeframe, you’re less likely to procrastinate on it. Just remember to be realistic with your deadline and be sure that it makes sense for what you’re trying to achieve.
4. Hold yourself accountable
It’s easy to get discouraged or question if your goals are realistic when there’s very little momentum. So hold yourself accountable by discussing your goals and resolutions with someone you trust. I love sharing my goals with Phil because having a support system for encouragement during stressful times is so helpful. It’s great having someone to remind you of your goals and help you stay focused.
5. Celebrate the small wins
The year ahead oftentimes feels so long, and it’s easy to get discouraged when progress on your resolutions slow down. That’s why it’s so important to celebrate and recognize yourself when you finally check something off of your to do list that you’ve been struggling to complete. I’m a big believer in celebrating milestones since those are things that you remember and look forward to most in life. If you need help tracking your goals and staying motivated, keep a journal and use it to write down your experiences and feelings.
xo, Maria
Outfit Details
Milly Blazer Dress (runs TTS)
Christian Louboutin Leopard Heels (better for budget here)
Nordstrom Crystal Choker Necklace
Hugo Boss Tuxedo (on Phil)
Tom Ford Bowtie (on Phil)
Hugo Boss Patent Loafers (on Phil)
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