The first couple weeks of the new year bring about an excitement and a stamina to inspire us to make big changes in our lives.
However, after these moments have passed and the excitement dies down, how do we commit to continue on our journey of accomplishing the goals we have set for ourselves?
The mornings that we wake up and think to ourselves — the time has finally come for me to reach my goals whether they be physical or mental improvements can be outweighed by the exhaustion that falling out of our holiday routine and back into our work routines can bring about.
It is too easy for us to give up on an idea that we were once so passionate about, so how exactly can we avoid this from happening, and reach the end of the year feeling proud of the impact we left on maybe not only ourselves, but others as well?
There are multiple things that help me to stick to my goals. One of the easiest things to do is to share your goals with others and receive their support.
By telling others of what you would like to accomplish in the upcoming year, you are finding an accountability buddy. Ask someone to check in on you once a month to see if the goal is still something you are pursuing or working toward.
Focus on one goal at a time. It is easy to tell yourself, this year I am going to run a marathon, I am going to eat healthy and cleanse my body, and I am going to rekindle my passion for journaling, and I am going to do 40 push ups before bed!!
But start small. By focusing on small steps that lead to success in one goal, you will feel that amazing sense of accomplishment more often, and it will encourage you to keep going, instead of discouraging or overwhelming you!
Finally, please remember that change takes time. My goal for 2021 is to rededicate myself to reading, a passion I have always enjoyed but have strayed far from with the introduction of a busy school schedule, social schedule and other things such as technology.
There was once a time that reading before bed was an important part of my schedule, but I fell out of this routine one year within a couple of months, so what is to make me think that it is something I will have accomplished within the first few weeks of the year?
Be patient with yourself and reward yourself for the little things. Maybe I have not yet accomplished reading every night, but just once or twice a week is already a step in the right direction!
