Are you ready for tips to help you achieve your goals?
Have you made New Year’s resolutions and realized you were not following through by the middle of January?
Do you keep making the same, or similar, resolutions every year?
Have you stopped making resolutions because you never follow through?
You can start achieving your goals; read on!
This is the time of year when many people think about resolutions, goals, and changes in their lives. I am going to guess that you might have been thinking something along the idea of “This is the year I will really pay attention to ______.”
The problem is that people do not always think about how they will achieve their goals.
You made a resolution or two that you REALLY wanted to have happen.
February came and the resolution(s) was/were a dim memory.
You have done that for (cough, cough) years.
Isn’t it time you tried something else?
Do not worry; you are not at fault. You do not know HOW to turn those resolutions into actions.
You also have LOTS of company!!!!!
When you think about the goals you want to achieve, do you think about what you will need to actually do to achieve those goals? I will bet that you think in general terms, but you do not think about the nitty-gritty. Let’s say you want to lose weight.
I am sure you recognize you will have to “eat less” or “exercise more”, but do you really think about what kind of exercise you will do, the time of day you will do it, and how often you will do it? If you want to achieve your goals, you will need to think about the nitty-gritty when you think about the goal you want to achieve.
Thinking about the nitty-gritty helps you accomplish your goals.
Many of these resolutions do not last long, as I am sure you have noticed. One reason for this is that people try to accomplish too much too fast. People get overwhelmed with a lot of changes, because they did not think about that nitty-gritty at the beginning, and then give up. They do not think about the actions they will need to do consistently to make that goal happen. One way to think about the actions you will take is referred to as habit stacking.
If you want to make some changes to your study routine, think of one small thing that you can connect with something else. Let’s say, for example, that someone likes to read before going to sleep. If you are going to read, then read a bit of your lesson material before you read your favorite stories. Maybe you will check into your online classroom before you check your social media accounts. If both activities are connected, and you will more likely accomplish the one if you attach it to a habit you already have.
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Maybe you will check into your online classroom before you check your social media accounts. If you are going to be on the computer/phone anyway, simply take action on the new behavior at the same time. In other words, you are adding a new (want to be) habit to an already existing habit. Habit stacking is so important to achieving what you want in life that books have been written about this.
New habits are more likely to be established if they are closely connected to an already existing habit.
1. Two habits can also be connected if they are similar.
Now, if you are trying to break a habit, then what can you do to eliminate some of the cues you have for that negative habit. An obvious idea here is that if you want to stop eating candy, but find yourself eating candy after dinner, then do not buy candy. Maybe you can create desserts that will leave you too full to want anything else.
If you spend more time on social media than you do on your studies, do not check your accounts until AFTER you have done something else you want or need to do. Checking on your social media thus becomes a reward for engaging in the behavior you want to add to your day.
If you tend to smoke the moment you wake up, then move the cigarettes to another room so that you are forced to get out of bed to get the cigarettes. You are less likely to get back into bed to smoke in that situation. You might, yes, but many people will think something along the line of “I am already up; I might as well …..”
How can you remove yourself from temptation? You do not need to rely on willpower if the temptation simply is not available. Does that make sense?
Some Ways to Create Habits to Stay Motivated and Achieve Your Goals
It should come as no surprise that the habits we form will determine our success or failure. After all, habits already dictate a lot about our lives. If we, for example, eat large amounts of food regularly and don’t exercise, we can expect to have physical consequences for our actions. That’s why it’s so important to form good habits so that we can reach our fullest potential.
What’s even more interesting is the fact that these same good habits can help us to stay motivated when it comes to realizing our goals.
Let’s look at some examples of creating good habits
2. Take care of yourself.
If you’ve ever been sick then you know it’s impossible to be productive, or even to have a positive attitude when you’re not feeling good. That’s why it’s so important to take charge of your health. Carrying extra weight not only drags you down but affects energy levels which in turn affects productivity. Setting up some healthy habits such as going to the gym more often, or making changes in your meal plan then will help you to stay motivated longer just because you’re feeling better when your body is in sync. Your improved health makes this a win-win all the way around.
3. Revisit the reason you’re doing what you do. It is hard to achieve your goals if you do not understand your “Why”.
When you make goals, you tend to feel that initial surge of enthusiasm for the project. Sadly, this motivation tends to wane over time. Build a habit that forces you to revisit the goal to bring that motivation level back up. For example, if you’re doing something that will benefit a specific group of people somehow, then plan to spend time each month with that group to remind yourself of why you’re doing this.
4. Be proactive.
Getting the jump on things is a habit that not only keeps your boss happy but also gives you a rush of dopamine to the brain. Build habits of being early, or do things that help you to think ahead. For example, make lists that keep you not only on task but ahead of the game.
5. Focus on the small stuff.
If you’re dealing with a big goal, such as some serious weight loss, it’s easy to lose your motivation when it feels like you’re not making progress. Having small goals gives you milestones to celebrate and builds motivation back. These kinds of goals come from small changes, like planning to eat a little differently (cutting carbs for example), or taking the stairs instead of using the elevator.
6. Surround yourself with people who motivate you and want you to achieve your goals.
That is an easy habit for you to build, in that it involves choosing a little more carefully what company you keep. Building a habit of meeting with this group on a regular basis not only keeps you motivated but has the added benefit of cementing relationships with those around you.
This may be difficult as you may not NOW know a lot of people who will support you in achieving your goals, but it is worth the time you take to find the people who will support you and give you honest feedback.
Building good habits is an awesome way to stay on track to reach your goals. The best part? As with any habit, if you do it enough, you’ll wind up acting without thinking, making motivation an automatic part of your life. How cool is that?
These activities may take a bit of creative thinking, but a little time spent thinking can go a long way toward helping you accomplish your goals.
What ideas can you think of to make your goals work?
If you have some tips that have worked for you and you count on, why not share them in the comment box so others have a chance to learn from you?
If you found this helpful, please share it with someone you think would also find it useful. I would appreciate it. Your friend might appreciate it too.
Have you ever lost points on an assignment because you forgot to do something? My assignment checklist can help you remember the details. Check it out! It is FREE!!!!
If you have any questions or comments, please leave me a note.
Valerie
updated 6 November 2022