{  iSavvyMom }
  • Home
  • Organize
  • Recipes
  • Finance
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Organize
  • Recipes
  • Finance
  • About
  • Shopping
  • Disclosure

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

How to set and accomplish your Goals and New Year's Resolutions

 iSavvyMom     12:30 PM     No comments   

 

With every new year comes new resolutions. A New Year is a time to reflect on the changes we want in our lives ; a time to flip a new page and focus on new goals or habits.

Every year, at least 45% of americans make new resolutions but only 8% are successful at accomplishing them.

So what do the people who are successful at attaining their goals know that the rest of us don't? , and How can we become successful at following through with our new year's resolutions and achieving our goals?.

As I was researching and mulling over these questions for the past three weeks, I came up with a list of things to do to help stick with the new year's resolutions or goals:

  • Write it down: The very first thing you need to do is define your new resolutions and write them down. Writing down your goals makes them more clear and concrete. You will be a lot less overwhelmed when you can see it rather than think it. It helps you move from the phase of dreaming to making your dream a reality.

  • Make SMART goals and track your progress:

Specific: Your goals should be specific not broad, vague goals. Example: I would like to lose 20 pounds (specific) vs. I want to lose weight (Vague).

Measurable: You should be able to measure them.  If it's not possible to measure your goals, make a scale from 0 to 10 for example with 0 being the worst and 10 being the best.

Achievable: Your goals need to be realistic; not something that is highly unlikely and almost impossible to achieve.

Relevant: You should have good and important reasons for wanting to make these resolutions. Your goals should matter to you; they need to hold an importance to accomplishing them. If not, you will most than likely end up giving up before even making any visible progress.

Time bound: Establish a time frame to your goals. Whether it takes 6 months or 6 years to get it done, you should always set a time boundary for whatever you are trying to achieve. You will have an easier time tracking your progress and moving forward when you know when it needs to be done.

For more on creating SMART goals, refer to this post.

  • Commitment:

According to Wikipedia; "A New Year's resolution is a commitment that a person makes to one or more personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit. A key element to a New Year's Resolution that sets it apart from other resolutions is that it is made in anticipation of the New Year and new beginnings. People committing themselves to a New Year's resolution generally plan to do so for the whole following year. This lifestyle change is generally interpreted as advantageous."

When you are committed to something, your only option is to go through with what you are committed to do. Giving up is not an option. When you narrow your options down to one; not giving up, you have already set yourself up for success because it is your only option.

  • Excuses Excuses Excuses:

We all have experienced setbacks and had to face our failures by making up excuses for not going through with our resolutions. Realize that setbacks will happen and you have to be prepared with an action plan. Step back and reflect on all the excuses that you usually allow yourself to believe for giving up on your goal and create strategies for dealing with them. What caused those setbacks and what can you do different this time around to avoid them?

  • Procrastination:

I confess, I am one big procrastinator. Mind you, I do get a lot of things done but I wait until the last minute to get them completed. I am not the one to start a project right after it has been presented. I usually wait until the last day OR the same day to start. I like to work under pressure so when there is no deadline, that project never gets done. If you are a procrastinator or you like to work under pressure, have an external deadline. Create a realistic deadline (not too far in the future and not too close making it almost impossible and highly stressful to accomplish) and have someone; who you would not like to disappoint, hold you accountable for it.

  • Take it one cake, one bite at a time:

Growth is an erratic forward movement: two steps forward, one step back. Remember that and be very gentle with yourself. Julia Cameron

This is when the power of focus comes to mind. Many of us have a long list of resolutions. We want to lose weight, get more organized, run a marathon, get out of debt, learn a new language, start a scrapbook, a blog, socialize more often and the list goes on and on.When you attempt to do it all, your attention gets pulled in different directions which makes you lose focus and at the end nothing gets done ; you just end up more frustrated. When you are making your list of new year's resolutions, narrow it down to only a few goals; don't try to do it all or all at the same time. When you think you can do it all or try to do it all, you are already setting yourself up for failure. You have to recognize that you have limited resources that you need to use wisely. So keep what's important to you on your list and focus on those few resolutions for now.

  • Get out of your comfort zone: We all have comfort zones where we stay in what's familiar to us and fear to venture out elsewhere. We usually stick to the path of least resistance. But to be able to change habits or experience a personal growth, we need to leave our familiar comfort zone to the unfamiliar road of change.

A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown. Denis Waitley

When you give yourself a chance to stretch beyond your comfort zone, you give yourself a chance to make your dreams a reality. Noone changed his life by sticking to the familiar. You will most likely feel some type of fear, anxiety, and stress but at the same time you will feel a sense of confidence. Confidence that you have what it takes to be successful and arrive at your desired destination.

  • Forget about the past, enjoy the present, and focus on the future:

“Forget past mistakes.  Forget failures. Forget everything except what you're going to do now and do it.” ―      William Durant

Don't ask "Why" but rather ask "What". What can I do to go through with my new year's resolutions. Focus on the future and stay positive in your road to success.

  • Associate a bad habit with a negative feeling:

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle

Is one of you new year's resolution to stop smoking, drinking, overeating, or any other bad habit that stands between who you are and who you want to become? You are not the only one. Noone is perfect but it helps to recognize the bad habits that stand between us and success and try to change them. The first step to improvement is to be honest with yourself and recognize the habit you need to work on or let go of and comtemplate the possibility of replacing it with a good habit. Start with one habit at a time and make it a 30 day challenge to change that habit or develop a new one. Don't be afraid to ask friends or family members for help. Noone succeeded by doing it all on his own.

So whether you are trying to form a new habit or make a dream come true, I hope that you will be able to find this list helpful in helping you achieve what you have set your mind to this new year. Be determined to make every day a better day and don't forget to have fun and enjoy life on your road to your dreams.

You might also be interested in:

How to organize your way to a balanced life

Photo Credit
  • Share This:  
  •  Facebook
  •  Twitter
  •  Google+
  •  Stumble
  •  Digg
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to Facebook

Related Posts:

  • 40% off coupon for Borders or Waldenbooks bookstores Click here for a 40% off coupon any one list-priced item (With the free Borders reward membership only)… Read More
  • Eat Pray Love movie for $5 at Target Target has the movie "Eat Pray Love" on sale for $9 this week. There is a $4 off coupon here on coupons.com which makes it $5 after the coupon.… Read More
  • Honey Glazed chicken2 lbs of boneless chicken breast 2 Tbsps of soy sauce or balsamic vinegar 1 Tbsp of honey 1 Tbsp of mustard 1 Tbsp of EVOO 1 glove of garlic crushed 1… Read More
  • *HOT* Free 1000 Rollover minutes from AT&TIf you have AT&T, text YES to 11113020 to receive 1000 FREE ROLLOVER MINUTES. I just did and I got a message back to allow 4 weeks for processing.… Read More
  • Mission organization: Pantry (Part 1)I love organizing so whenever I have time, I try to organize something around the house. Nonetheless, I decided to take a challenge. One year to an or… Read More
Newer Post Older Post Home

0 comments:

Post a Comment

About Me

iSavvyMom
I am a mother to two beautiful girls and a wife to an amazing man. I work as an engineer and love everything organizing, cooking, and personal finance, which is why I decided to have this blog to share what I have learned. XOXO Nisrine isavvymom1@gmail.com
View my complete profile
Moms need a break too!

Popular Posts

  • Mission Organization: House cleaning schedule for an organized and clean home
  • Best Diaper deal
  • Olay Soap for $0.24 at Walgreens
  • FREE Starbucks Coffee: today only (April 22)
  • Easter crafts and decorating Ideas
  • Free Easter day worksheets for preschoolers
  • Mission Organization: Children's Clothes Drawer
  • FREE sample of Nescafe Taster's Choice coffee
  • Operation Toy story $3 and Candyland $2 at Walmart
  • $5 off a $25 Purchase at Payless Shoesource

Pages

  • Home
  • iSave
  • iCook
  • iOrganize
  • iRead
  • Coupons.com
  • Disclosure Policy
  • iContact

Text Widget

Blog Archive

  • ►  2016 (1)
    • ►  August (1)
  • ▼  2015 (12)
    • ►  June (9)
    • ►  February (1)
    • ▼  January (2)
      • How to set and accomplish your Goals and New Year'...
      • Bad habit: Procrastination
  • ►  2012 (20)
    • ►  December (7)
    • ►  November (3)
    • ►  September (1)
    • ►  March (2)
    • ►  February (6)
    • ►  January (1)
  • ►  2011 (666)
    • ►  December (1)
    • ►  November (28)
    • ►  October (77)
    • ►  September (5)
    • ►  August (15)
    • ►  July (51)
    • ►  June (68)
    • ►  May (61)
    • ►  April (110)
    • ►  March (111)
    • ►  February (139)
Powered by Blogger.

Total Pageviews

isavvymom.com

isavvymom.com

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Labels

  • $10 cash
  • $1000 gift card
  • 30% off Coupon at Lands End
  • Alex toys
  • amazon deal
  • Amazon Kindle Fire
  • amazon mom
  • amazon mom sweepstake
  • Arby's
  • Arby's coupon
  • babies r us
  • balance
  • balanced life
  • Banana Republic Coupon
  • birth order
  • Black Friday Deals
  • Black Friday Store Ads
  • blockbuster
  • Blockbuster Express codes
  • BOGO Starbucks
  • book review
  • borders coupon
  • breakfast
  • butterball turkey coupon
  • cable
  • car
  • cash back
  • cashback
  • cheap fashion
  • cheap wipes
  • chili recipe
  • chili's coupon
  • clean car
  • cleaning
  • cook
  • coupon
  • coupons
  • croissants
  • CVS
  • CVS $10 Gas Card
  • CVS $10 gift card
  • CVS deal
  • CVS scenario
  • daily deals
  • deal
  • deals
  • Diaper
  • diaper deal
  • dinner
  • drugstore deals
  • drugstore deals November
  • earth day
  • easy recipe
  • finance
  • food storage
  • food storage organization
  • free
  • free baremineral sample
  • free canvas
  • free clinique gift set
  • free coffee
  • free coffee sample
  • Free Collage
  • free curly fries
  • free drain cleaner
  • Free DVD rental
  • free grilled chicken pecan salad
  • free kleenex
  • free massage
  • free money online
  • free Ozarka water
  • free pei wei
  • free redbox code rental
  • free reusable bag
  • free sunglasses Sears
  • Free Target Gift Card
  • freebies
  • freeze onions
  • gift card
  • gift cards
  • Giveaway
  • Goldfish coupon
  • ground turkey
  • Holiday Starbucks Drinks
  • horizon coupon
  • hot deal kitchenAid
  • hydroMassage
  • iContact
  • iCook
  • iSave
  • isavvymom
  • isavvymom.com
  • JC penney coupon
  • JCPenney
  • kids eat free
  • kirklands
  • kitchen organization
  • Lands end coupon
  • laundry room
  • lunch
  • macy's
  • Macy's coupon
  • marrietta max
  • Martha stewart summer grilling cookbook
  • menu plan
  • menu planning
  • merona tee
  • mom fashion
  • Moroccan tajine
  • nescafe
  • netflix
  • november 13
  • officemax coupon
  • old navy
  • Old navy cooupon
  • old navy coupon code
  • Olive Garden Coupon
  • organic milk coupon
  • organization
  • organize
  • organize car
  • organize children drawer
  • organize laundry room
  • organized kitchen
  • organized pantry
  • Ozarka coupon
  • pampers wipes
  • pantry organization
  • pasta recipe
  • printable coupon
  • printable coupons
  • printable list
  • pumpkin bread
  • pumpkin cake
  • quick cooking tip
  • quiznos coupon
  • recipe
  • RedBox Codes
  • restaurant
  • retail coupons
  • riding a bicycle
  • Rite Aid Deal
  • Rite aid deals
  • roasted vegetables
  • Sally Hansen Xtreme Nail
  • santa cruz lemonade coupon
  • save on cable
  • seventh generation body wash deal
  • shopping list
  • slow cooker recipe
  • small plate
  • starbucks Buy One Get One Free
  • starbucks coffee
  • store coupons
  • store deal
  • store deals
  • store onions
  • swagbucks
  • swagbucks code
  • tamale bake
  • Target
  • Target Deal
  • taster's choice
  • taxes
  • TGI Friday coupon
  • thanksgiving coupons
  • THanksgiving Menu with make ahead plan
  • time wasters
  • toy deals
  • turkey deal
  • tv
  • two ingredient pumpkin cake
  • VTech Mobigo
  • Walgreens
  • Walgreens deal
  • walgreens deals
  • walgreens photo deal
  • watch favorite TV shows cheap free
  • water for elephants
  • Welcome
  • wii
  • winnie the pooh movie
  • winnie the pooh movie coupon
  • winnie the pooh worksheets activities
  • wonder sale

Subscribe

Like us on Facebook

Search & Win

Sample Text

Copyright © 2025 { iSavvyMom } | Powered by Blogger
Design by Hardeep Asrani | Blogger Theme by NewBloggerThemes.com | Distributed By Gooyaabi Templates