New Year, New You: 6 Ways to Stick with Your Resolutions
It feels as though it was just yesterday when we were making our New Year’s resolutions. Now spring is upon us, and it’s the right time to take a step back and see how well we have kept to our own promises to change our lives for the better. Are you any closer to learning that new skill? What progress have you made toward the promotion you want?
If you are like most people, you probably have some catching up to do when it comes to achieving the goals you set for yourself for the new year. So, to give you a bit of help, we’re sharing these six tips on how to stick with your personal and professional resolutions:
Make a list
Oftentimes, people make their New Year’s resolutions in their mind only, and that’s one of the reasons why most of them never go beyond intentions. Start by creating an actual list, and put your resolutions in a visible spot where you are able to see them every day. This is a very simple technique, but it can be extremely helpful in helping you stick with your goals.
2. Watch less TV
According to a 2014 study by media ratings company Nielsen, the average American between 25 and 34 years old spends more than 27 and a half hours watching TV each week. Just think of what you can achieve if you dedicate some of that time to developing new skills, learning a new language or earning a degree that would help jump-start your career.
3. Read more
Another 2014 study by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the average American reads for just over 2 hours per week. That’s not a whole lot, considering that books are an excellent way to expand your knowledge base and improve your concentration and cognitive ability. If you haven’t already, try to start a new habit of reading daily, if only for 20-30 minutes at a time.
4. Become more organized
Regardless of how much spare time you have in your day, you will never have enough if you don’t manage it properly. Start creating daily to-do lists, so that you can always keep track of your main priorities. Feel free to take advantage of various time management apps if you don’t feel like carrying that piece of paper around.
5. Embrace change
Pursuing your resolutions inevitably implies making changes in your daily routine and habits, and doing so may feel uncomfortable at first. Don’t be afraid of change, but try to embrace it. As famous Chinese teacher and philosopher Confucius once said, “They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.”
6. Stop procrastinating
Procrastination is the single most significant reason that stops most people from achieving their goals. Once you get into a habit of procrastinating, it becomes very difficult to lift yourself out of it. Most tasks we procrastinate about are actually much simpler and easier than we imagine them to be. So, the best solution to procrastination is to actually take the first step. Be it getting in shape, eating healthier or going back to college, start moving toward your goal one step at a time. Set daily tasks that will move you in the right direction, however small they may be, and in time, you will find yourself well on your way to achieving your true potential.
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