It’s a platitude we’ve all heard before, but when you start to unpack what it means, you might start to realise that your attitude really does go a long way towards determining whether or not you will ever actually achieve your goals.
From losing weight to organising your finances, working on your relationship or getting fit, the time is NOW!
New year, new you?
January’s already gone and before you know it we’ll be half way through the year, and with almost 80% of people failing to stick to their New Year’s Resolutions, I thought now would be a good time to offer some practical advice for making 2017 your best year yet.
I’m not going to beat about the bush; changing years of habit and learned behaviour can be tough and you may have to take a long hard look at what drives your thoughts and actions before you start to notice any lasting improvement.
For instance overeating, overdrinking, overspending or even over-Facebooking could be signs of underlying anxiety, stress or depression. Perhaps your marriage is going through a rocky patch or you’re feeling under pressure at work? Going on a shopping spree or taking refuge in the online world provides quick, effective, but temporary relief from those negative emotions.
The trick to moving forwards and gaining control of your life again is to understand what lies beneath them and to develop an action plan for effecting the change you desire.
Making your dreams a reality
There is nothing more satisfying than self-improvement and setting goals. It can be messy. It can be hard work. But it gives us a sense of hope for the future and gives us something to work towards, everyday.
And as 2017 is all about making our dreams a reality, let’s take a look at how to set goals that work.
S.M.A.R.T Goals:
If you’re looking to make some real, lasting change in your life, S.M.A.R.T. goals are a good place to start, providing you with a set of practical and achievable principles that will see you well on your way!
- Specific – Make your goal specific. Break it down into smaller, specific mini-goals, rather than one over-arching goal that may seem too enormous and daunting for you to even begin. Then you can enjoy a sense of achievement as you tick them off one by one, which will serve to motivate you even further!
- Measurable – It’s all very well having some airy fairy idea of what you want to achieve, but if you have a specific number or an end result in mind, it will keep you raring to go if you’re able to see and measure the progress you’re making, knowing you’re well on your way to reaching your target.
- Achievable – Sometimes looking at the big picture can be overwhelming. So don’t set yourself up for failure – rather break your tasks down into mini goals that you know you can achieve own that sense of satisfaction you’ll get when you smash your goals through the roof.
- Relevant – Make sure your goals are relevant to where you find yourself in life. Give some thought to what you want to achieve. After all, you have to be 100% invested in the process for it to work and if you’re not going to find it rewarding, then you may as well find something else to do with your time.
- Time-based – You know what they say: A goal without a deadline is just a dream. Make your dreams a reality. Set a date. And make them happen.
Change is good
Nobody likes change. And making a change in your life is often easier said than done but you don’t have to feel alone. Tell your friends about your resolutions. Hold yourself accountable. Ask for help. But most importantly, start. Start now.
If you’d like a bit of help to get started, then let’s chat!