Every year, the first day of January rolls around and we promise ourselves something that we hope to achieve by the next time January comes around. If you’re anything like me, by the next New Year’s Day I have already forgotten what my original New Year’s Resolution was. This seems to happen more often than not. For me, the question is, how do I come up with a realistic New Year’s Resolution and how do I stick to it?
Fortunately, there are many ways to make your New Year’s Resolution achievable. Instead of giving yourself a large and ambiguous goal, give the goal a number and steps to reach it. Here are a list of New Year’s Resolutions and how to make them achievable in a simple step.
Lose Weight: In my family, this seems to be the most common New Year’s Resolution. Unfortunately, it also seems to be the least attainable. It shouldn’t be that difficult. Instead of telling yourself to lose weight by 2017, set a specific goal and determine how you plan to obtain it. For example, say you want to lose 20 pounds.
Obtainable Goal: In 2016, I want to lose 20 pounds by dedicating an hour to the gym and workout schedule five days a week.
Eat Healthier: Personally, eating healthy is always a challenge because of the easy access to foods that are simply delicious but terrible for you. McDonalds, Wendy’s and Burger King are fast-growing companies that come up with new ways to tempt us every day. In order to make this goal attainable, you have to set some limits for yourself.
Obtainable Goal: In 2016, I want to maintain a healthier diet by limiting myself to eating fast food no more than once a month. In the meantime, I plan to increase my fruit and vegetable intake.
Stop Procrastinating: For many college students, this is a very hard goal. Procrastination forces students to work under pressure to meet a deadline. After successfully meeting the deadline a few times while procrastinating, it can be hard to get out of the habit. It’s not impossible though.
Obtainable Goal: In 2016, I want to start my assignments a week before their deadline to give myself more time to finish the assignment thoroughly and with quality. I plan to use an academic calendar to track assignment due dates and my progress throughout the week.
Save More Money: Every New Year’s Eve, I tell myself that I am going to save more money so in order to build my savings and have a cushion for that rainy day. At the end of the year, I look at my savings and there is not much progress. For many people, money burns a hole in their pocket. However, saving money is really not as hard as it seems. It just depends on how much you plan to put away.
Obtainable Goal: In 2016, I want to put away 10% of every paycheck I earn in order to build my savings account.
Reduce Stress: Reducing your stress level can be the most difficult goal. In today’s society, we have so many pressures from making money to maintaining good grades. We all have our own level of stress and it can be difficult to focus on staying calm. We all have our own stress relief techniques as well. Focus your time and energy every day on using a stress relief technique.
Obtainable Goal: In 2016, I plan to reduce my stress level by participating in yoga three times a week regardless of any other obligations.
These are just a few examples of how to make your New Year’s Resolution obtainable. In order to succeed, challenge yourself to take baby steps. Give your resolution a number and steps. Eventually, you will reach the goal and be able to push even farther the next year. Take a minute and make your New Year’s Resolution an obtainable goal and then stick to it.