You have your resolutions set for the New Year; you’re ready for success and focused on following through with them…So, now what? It’s time for you to set a timeline and write out a calendar.
First things first…
Sub Goals- Your large goal broken down into mini attainable sub goals.
Schedule your sub goals to figure out how long it will take to reach your large goal.
Set dates for the completion of your sub goals so that you have a realistic timeline for when your resolution can be accomplished. Budget extra time for your sub goals so you don’t overwhelm yourself and get stressed out about the process. Remember from blog one, your resolutions should make you happy and not give you the feeling of being overwhelmed and like you can’t accomplish them.
If your resolution has you accomplishing something by a certain date then schedule that date on a calendar, you should be able to look at it everyday if need be. Giving your resolution a concrete timeline will make it something you’re constantly working towards rather than just an idea that’s always in the back of your mind.
A lifestyle resolution that doesn’t have an end date needs to be scheduled on a daily basis. If you’re trying to stick to an exercise plan or eat healthier then block off time each day in your planner for your workouts or meal prep. If you have multiple lifestyle changes you’re making don’t start all of them at once. Set dates on your calendar for individual starts for each one. Overwhelming yourself with a total lifestyle change in one day will derail all your resolutions.
Schedule daily tasks and prioritize your time so you can work a little each day towards your sub goals. If your resolution is to lose 20 pounds then create tasks such as meal prep and time to exercise in your day so you can fulfill your resolution. Once you’ve narrowed your sub-goals into tasks you no longer need to think about how you’re going to achieve them, you just need to complete the tasks you have set out for yourself.
When breaking down your sub goals into tasks, make sure you are realistic with the amount of time you have to spend on them in a day. This will create a realistic timeline for you to accomplish your sub goals and your ultimate resolution.
Write it down. Write your resolutions, sub goals and tasks in a calendar that every time you look at it will hold you accountable. When we don’t put things in print we tend to forget them or forget the emotion that we had behind them when we decided to start. Keeping yourself accountable is going to be the hardest part of the entire process so organization from day one is key.
Don’t forget to track milestones and congratulate yourself along the way. Be careful of how you reward yourself though. If your goal is to lose weight, don’t treat yourself to a giant cheat meal when you hit milestones you’ve set for yourself. Instead buy yourself a new piece of clothing or get yourself a gift that has nothing to do with food. Self-sabotage is extremely common and before you know it you’ll be talking yourself out of your resolution.
Once you’ve taken the time to build your calendar, make sure you stick to it. Focus on the key points in blog two to guarantee success.
Throughout the process make your timeline realistic and enjoy the process. Enjoying the path along the way can sometimes be more rewarding than actually fulfilling the resolution, so focus on that when things seem daunting.
Check back next week for the fourth and final installation of the new years resolution blog where the Scorch team shares their resolutions and how we plan to accomplish them.
Until next week,
Liz