01.01.19
The first day of a new year might be the most popular day for people to reinvent themselves, start new routines, or start working towards goals.
*I personally don’t like New Year’s resolutions because why bother waiting for a new year to make a change? If you want to work on yourself do it whenever you want whether it’s January first, July 17th or December 30th. But that’s beside the actual point.*
Most of those people tend to burn out after a few weeks.
Anyone who frequently goes to a gym, will probably say the first two weeks of January are the busiest, least productive weeks of their fitness year. People are flooding into the gym, using machines incorrectly and excessively, trying to FINALLY lose those 15 pounds for their resolution. By the time February rolls around? The gym is back to its usual traffic, with maybe just a few more resolutioners hanging onto to their routine and goals.
The rest burnt out.
Whether your goals are weight loss, drinking less, more time outside, being less wasteful, or even more time at home, there are a few things you can do to keep yourself on track to reach your goals.
- Start slow with an attainable schedule
Yes. Working towards your goal every single day seems like a good idea. Harder work means faster results right? Not quite. If you’re used to going for a walk twice a year when the weather is nice, forcing yourself to run three miles a day isn’t going to work for long. If you drank nine cups of coffee a day for most of your life suddenly cutting it out will be miserable for you, and anyone who has to work around you too. Slowly incorporating ways to reach your goal will help avoid you burning out on your resolution.
2. Get inspired
Are you wanting to be more positive in your everyday life? Find some source of inspiration. Whether that be a Pinterest board, a ridiculously positive friend, or even just posting positive quotes in your work space, have some source of inspiration to remind you of your goal even when you don’t feel like doing it.
3. Hold yourself accountable
Feeling like you’re about to burn out? Here is where you need to get yourself determined and gritty towards your goals. Take care of yourself, but make yourself follow through on what you want. No one is going to do it for you, get up and get it done. Why do most goals have to be repeated year after year? People not holding themselves accountable and not following through with their goals. Get an accountability partner, set alarms and reminders on your phone, even put up a sticky note reminding yourself to just DO IT.
4. Be consistent
Consistency is key in many areas in life. Your job usually won’t pay you if you don’t show up on time each day. You won’t be getting a degree if you don’t do the coursework. If you don’t get out of bed, you won’t be accomplishing much of anything. You don’t want to overdo it starting out, but you do have to actually DO something. Go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday. Plan a time to work on your goals. You schedule important meetings, why wouldn’t you schedule something self improvement?
5. Remember why you started
Running a 5K. Starting a savings account. Spending more time with family and less time at work. Drinking less caffeine. What was your point for wanting to make the change? Whether that’s getting healthy, deepening family relationships, or being able to sleep at night, you had a purpose behind starting your goals. Stick with it.
Buy that plane ticket. Go run. Put down the coffee. Use a reusable grocery bag. Call your mom. Be nicer to strangers. Don’t be a burn out. Crush your goals anytime of year.
Sarah's NoDak living 