Making a New Year goal is easy, but keeping it can be a little more difficult. It’s now February and the excitement has faded. At first, you’re so excited to get started with your goal. Whether it’s losing weight, saving money, or being more productive, you look forward to getting your life in order. Unfortunately, that initial eagerness quickly fades away as your everyday life bogs you down. Work keeps you busy, you feel tired from taking care of your family’s needs, there’s too much to do… these are all reasons that can make you ditch your New Year goal within a few weeks. Does this sound familiar? Don’t worry; there’s hope! Despite a busy schedule and life getting in the way, these tips will help you keep your goals.
Setting a Schedule
One simple tip will help you succeed if your goal is to be more productive this year. In order to be more productive, identify the tasks you would like to do and then set a schedule. Whether it’s to keep the bathroom clean, to go through your junk drawer or even to get laundry done, set a schedule and stick to it! Keep a calendar and a to do list. Remember you can only do what you can do. If you plan to leave work at 5:00, then leave at 5:00. There will always be more you can do but your mental health is important.
Meal Prepping
Eating healthy is important, so if you chose this as your New Year goal, then there are some easy things you can do to stick with it. One of the reasons junk food is so popular is because it’s convenient. If you’re feeling hungry, it’s easier to grab a handful of chips to munch on than it is to cut up veggies for a healthy snack. Meal prepping is an easy way you can make eating healthy a priority. Simply plan your meals and snacks for the week and then prepare the food. When you feel like a snack, you can grab a baggie of precut veggies. When it’s time to cook dinner, you simply need to warm up the meal you’ve already prepared. The convenience of meal prepping will make you excited to eat your healthy food. My husband would grill several meats on Sunday evening. I would put them in containers and purchase steamer bags of veggies and salad bags at the store. When we stick to this plan, dinners are simple and healthy AND we save a LOT of money!
Get a Workout Partner
If your New Year goal is to go to the gym more often, then a little bit of accountability will go a long way in helping you stick to it. It can be so difficulty to go to the gym after a long day at work, but if you have someone expecting you at the gym, then it’s a lot easier to get there. Your workout partner could be a friend who also wants to get fit or it can be a personal trainer. When you find a workout partner, you’ll be more motivated to go to the gym and keep your New Years goal. Honestly, the only time I have been successful is when I have to be accountable to someone. I hate that about myself. My husband is so disciplined. I wish I could be more like that!
Keeping a Spreadsheet
Saving money is a great goal to have this New Year. If you want to add to your savings, then the first thing you need to do is identify how much you’d like to save. Start a spreadsheet with how much you already have in your savings. Then, create a column for each week or month, depending on your savings goal. You can then set a goal for each time period and then track how much you actually save. You’ll love watching your savings account grow as you work towards your end of year goal. Dave Ramsey also has a great envelope system that is awesome for budgeting. Check it out!
What goals are you working towards? No one is perfect. Don’t be too hard on yourself. You don’t have to wait until Monday to make a life change. If you have goals, get after them. When you fall short, start again tomorrow. Remember comparison is the thief of joy. Worry about yourself and give yourself grace when you need it. Progress is progress. You’ve got this!
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