New Year’s Day has come and gone, and with it we’ve made our resolutions for the coming year. They say that 60% of people make New Year’s resolutions, but only 8% are successful at achieving them. Wow. Why is staying motivated so difficult?
Part of the problem is that the enthusiasm with which we make those New Year’s resolutions wanes after a while. My husband belongs to a gym, and he said that right now in January, the gym is packed with new members. Lots of folks have resolved to lose weight and become healthier. Unfortunately, by February, the gym will be nearly empty again.
Staying motivated is challenging, but it is the difference between those who achieve success and those who don’t. Great success doesn’t come easily. It comes only through perseverance.
If you have Big Goals that you are trying to achieve, consider using the following approaches to stay motivated. Make sure that you are part of the 8%!
Stay Motivated by Creating a Vision Board
Most of us are very visual. So, we are motivated by what we see. As a result, one way to stay motivated is to have pictures of your goals readily available to look at.
For instance, it is easier to lose weight if you have a picture to inspire you. Now, don’t choose a photo of someone else! Instead, grab a photo of you when you were at your healthiest. Then use that photo to motivate you. If you see that you were healthy once before, you will realize that you absolutely can be healthy again.
Back in the day, folks used to make actual vision boards. They put pictures on a bulletin board of things that they wanted to have or achieve. But nowadays, with technology, you easily can create a vision board on your phone. I have one. On my phone, I have a photo album called “Creative Visualization.” It contains the things that I want to achieve. I regularly look at it to keep myself motivated toward my goals.
Make Your Goal Part of Your Daily Schedule
Your goals should be part of your daily schedule. For instance, I have a goal to write a certain number of articles each week. As a result, I write every morning without fail – even on the weekends. Writing is part of my schedule, and I don’t vary from it.
If you simply try to work toward your goal whenever you have free time, it will never happen. Life is busy. We tend to push our personal goals aside if even the smallest issue comes up. The only way to prioritize your goal is to make it a part of your daily schedule. You should be working toward your goal at a set time each day.
For example, if your goal is to lose weight, pick a certain time each day to exercise. And then don’t vary from that time. If you try to exercise whenever it is convenient, it will never happen. Something more important always will come up. If you stick to a daily routine, you most assuredly will make significant progress toward any goal that you are trying to achieve.
Stay Motivated by Tracking Your Progress
It is easy to get frustrated if you feel like your efforts aren’t making a difference. That is why it is important to track your progress as you work toward your goal.
There are different ways to do this. If you are more traditional, you might buy a beautiful notebook in which to keep a diary of what you accomplish each day. If you are more technologically advanced, you might keep track of your progress on your computer or phone. When you do, be sure to not only keep track of your daily progress but also of every small win.
For example, if you are losing weight, keep track of every pound lost. If you are trying to find a better job, keep a spreadsheet of every resume sent out and the response. If you are trying to learn a new language, keep a log of how much time you spend studying. Also, note any major improvements in your abilities or any tests that you pass.
When we measure our progress, it makes the journey toward our goal more exciting. We feel like our efforts are bearing fruit! And that is a wonderful way to stay motivated.
Have Fun with Your Goals
Like most people, I can be very impatient. I want my goals to be accomplished now. But there is a lot to be said for the adage, “It is not about the destination; it is about the journey.” We shouldn’t simply be obsessed with achieving our goal. Rather, we should enjoy the whole experience!
For instance, my mother loves to make her goals a game. If she wants to reduce her expenses, she’ll see how little money she can spend in a day. If she wants to lose weight, she’ll see how far she can walk in a week. Everything to her is a game!
That isn’t a bad approach. The more you have fun with achieving your goals, the more likely it is that you will stick with it to see them accomplished. Make achieving your goals a game. And give yourself rewards as you reach each small milestone!
I encourage you to be part of the 8% who accomplish their New Year’s Resolutions this year. You deserve to feel the pride of having accomplished your goals. Consider using some of the above approaches to stay motivated. If you follow these approaches, you will be able to accomplish your greatest goals! (To read more about ways to make your goals a reality, click here.)
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