By Shannon Devy
We're halfway through the year (can you believe it!) and if you’re anything like us, perhaps those enthusiastic New Year’s resolutions have fallen a little by the wayside already. Never fear – it’s not too late to raise your goals from the dead!
Here are five ways to get refocused.
Write them down. By hand. In detail. Right now. Studies show that the simple act of writing down your goals increases your chance of achieving them by up to 42%.
Writing down your goals helps you:
Clarify what you want to do and why
Focus on the specifics
Overcome resistance
Track your progress
Remember to make sure you develop your goals into SMART goals.
They should be:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
And Time-bound.
Instead of “I want to start running”, write down “I will be able to run 5km without stopping by December 1”.
Make a plan. Now that you know exactly what you want to achieve, work backwards and identify exactly what you’ll need to do every day to get you there.
This needs to be a specific schedule of manageable actions that, if carried out consistently, will take you to your objective. Be realistic. Take into account your daily schedule and commitments, your energy levels, and your current abilities. Remember, you’re trying to build something, so you need to take it step by step.
Start small. Remember, you eat an elephant one bite at a time. If the prospect of tackling all your goals at once overwhelms you, find one small thing you can do today that will move you closer to where you want to be, and do it. Then do it again tomorrow.
Remove obstacles. Think carefully about what’s getting in your way. Identify your blockers and make moves to eliminate them. If you find yourself loath to get up and exercise in the morning, consider sleeping in your workout gear so you’re ready to go when you wake up.
If you are having trouble thinking of a healthy meal every evening, set aside a few hours on a Sunday to meal prep for the week. Make things as easy for yourself as possible, and you’ll be surprised how quickly new habits develop.
Track your progress. Write down every little win. Seeing how you’re succeeding will fuel more success. Make careful notes of your progress, no matter how small, and watch it snowball.
Good luck! We believe in you!