Did you know that research shows that up to 92% of people give up on their New Year resolutions by January 19th? It is hard to believe that only 8% of people actually stick with their goal for more than 19 days!! According to another study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, just 46% of people who set resolutions were successful. That means more than 50% of the people who set a goal fail to achieve it.
Whether your upcoming year’s objective is to lose weight, spend more time with friends and family, learn new skills, increase the hours of sleep you get each night, or perhaps achieve a significant financial milestone, now is a great time to start.
The Best Time to Set Goals
While there is never a perfect time to reduce stress, stop procrastinating, start a spending plan, break bad habits, reduce social media, eat healthier, or begin an exercise program, for many, the New Year is one of the best times to undertake both small and large goals.
And because no one wants to fail, today, you will learn the step-by-step process to accomplish your resolutions so that you can achieve your short and long-term results.
Before we dive into the training, let’s review some ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
As you develop ideas, keep in mind that it is recommended that you begin with one to three goals.
New Year Resolution Ideas
Drink more water
While this may seem like a silly goal, it is a prevalent one that is critical to our health.
And while there is not as much research on how much water is optimal, many experts recommend drinking 50% of your body weight in ounces daily. You may need more if you exercise or partake in strenuous activities. Ideally, drink water 30 minutes before a meal or an hour after a meal for optimal digestion. It is best to refrain from drinking any beverage during a meal.
For example, if you weigh 130 pounds, you will drink 60 ounces of water each day, which equates to a little under 8 cups, assuming 8 ounces are in a cup.
To avoid disrupting your sleep because you must urinate from the extra water you drink, spread it out as follows: drink 25% of your daily water intake when you arise in the morning, then mid-morning another 25%, followed by 25% before or after lunch, and the final 25% before dinner.
Then if you are thirsty after dinner, sip water or a small amount of herbal tea. This strategy will reduce your likelihood of disrupting sleep.
Another tip is to lay on a slant board. Over time, gravity continues to add pressure on our organs, including our bladder. The slant board relieves stress and improves our ability to sleep through the night without having to urinate.
If you don’t have a slant board, you can improvise with an iron board that you raise on one end so that your head is below your heart and legs. Be careful to ensure it doesn’t fall over.
If you need support with your money or mindset, start here:
Get more active
As horrifying as it sounds, sitting is the new smoking, so setting this goal could improve your health and even save your life.
The secret to becoming more active is to find an activity you enjoy. For many, outdoor activities, such as hiking, walking, biking, running, or skiing, are at the top of their list. Or, you may prefer a treadmill, elliptical, rowing machine, Zumba class, kickboxing or self-defense class, or a combination of activities.
Experts recommend that an ideal exercise program includes cardiovascular exercise, yoga, and weight training. Commit to 10,000 steps and 20-30 minutes of yoga daily, and three to four 60-minute weight training sessions weekly.
The point is that you consistently stay active and ideally do something you truly enjoy. If you do not like an activity, such as weight training, but you know how important it is and how much better you feel because of the exercise, find a partner who you can work out with and hold you accountable. In addition, reward yourself when you complete a certain number of classes. I find weight training hard and boring. So I started going to a gym. It was a great decision; now, six months later, I feel stronger and healthier.
Increase your rest and relaxation time
In this 24/7, always-on workplace, our downtime often suffers. When we do not have enough time to rest, relax, and rejuvenate, it hurts our creativity and productivity.
If you are a type A personality, scheduling downtime into your calendar goes a long way to making it a reality. Another effective strategy is to identify consequences for your actions.
A key to rest includes sleep. Experts recommend 7 ½ to 8 ½ hours of sleep each night. Remember that you typically are awake 30 to 90 minutes each night, so you need to include that in your total sleep time. For example, if you go to bed at 10 PM and are awake for 30 minutes, you will need to sleep until 6:30 AM to get eight hours. It is recommended to set your room temperature between 68 and 72 degrees.
Another great tip is to reward yourself if you meet your commitment. For example, if your goal is to meditate for 30 minutes daily or start saving 10% of your paycheck, the consequence may be to get a massage or play a round of golf with friends on Friday. If you don’t complete the daily meditation objective, you must donate to your least favorite political organization or special interest group. Consequences generally work best when a third party holds you accountable to your goal.
Become more eco-friendly
While many of us feel overwhelmed or that it is difficult, if not impossible, to impact the environment, we can do our part by focusing on small actions.
Whether we use a refillable water container versus a plastic bottle, recycle, install solar energy, plant a tree, drive a fuel-efficient vehicle, or use an alternative means of transportation, we feel empowered knowing we are doing our part to impact the environment positively.
Volunteer for the less fortunate
Many would agree that spending time with others less fortunate than us makes us appreciate what we have and see how truly blessed our lives are.
The lists of volunteer options are endless. From animals to seniors, to children, to cancer survivors, to food banks, to disabled veterans, to special needs, the opportunities are vast.
Volunteering for a dog shelter or an organization that houses women and children who escaped an abusive situation does wonders to elevate your purpose, meaning, and value.
In addition to improving the lives of those who are less fortunate, you also can meet others who share your interest, making this option a win-win for all.
To find the best option, take some quiet time and determine the impact you want to make on the people whose lives you want to affect. Once you choose the ideal audience, start researching options and schedule regular volunteer time at their organization.
Turn off the TV or other electronic devices
Electronic devices stimulate our nervous system. Taking a break and focusing instead on activities, such as spending time with family and friends, reading inspirational books and quotes, meditating, positive prayer, yoga, chants, focus breathing, silent walks or hikes, visioning, and stating affirmations, can dramatically improve our mental health and attitude.
A great start is turning off electronic devices 60-90 minutes before bed and taking a break from TV Monday through Thursday.
Click the image to watch today’s episode:
In today’s episode, I show you the exact process of setting goals so that you can achieve them.
In this video, you will learn:
- The process to make your resolutions stick
- The formula to achieve results, including financial goals
- Where to start when setting resolutions
- The critical goal-setting step that makes your dream a reality
- How to program your goal into your subconscious mind
- How to simplify the process of setting goals
- Why realistic targets can (and often do) keep you stuck
- How to state your goals, objectives, and HVAs (high value activities). HVAs are your daily actions and habits that make achieving your goals possible.
- Why most people give up on the goals within the first 20 days
- How long it takes to achieve a habit so you can achieve your objective (No, it is not 21 days.)
- How to reprogram your brain, so you can achieve your goal (This one insight will change your life forever.)
You can download your Goal Setting guide here:
For research on how to better achieve goals, access Gail Matthews’ study from the Dominican University here: Goal Setting and Achieving Research
