4 Tips for a Fabulous New Year Resolution

The first of the month brings us tons of opportunities to change, grow and excel in 2018. However, so many January 1’s come and go, and our lives seem to be the exact same. You may have made a New Year’s resolution to organize your days and events in a planner, become a regular in the gym, or manage your finances better. Year after year we make a New Year’s resolution that we seem dedicated to sticking with, but sometimes fall short in the 12 months following. Whether you’re successful at the end of the year or not, it’s always worth trying and seeing what improvements you can make. Instead of giving up a few months in, you can make a New Year’s resolution that you can follow-thru with and is attainable. Here are 4 ways to make 2018 your golden year!

1. Take a Walk Down Memory Lane: Take some time to think about last year. Think about the good, the bad, and the ugly. Reflecting on your mistakes, successes and everything in between will help you decide what you want to focus on. What do you wish you could have done better? Is there anything you specifically want to change? What did you do that helped you and how can you continue doing so? It’s important not to beat yourself up or use this as a time to feel like a failure.
2. Spread it out: When the first of the year rolls around, it brings along tons of inspiration and makes us feel like we have to jump on the ball immediately! We measure our success by those first 31 days. We also tend to give up if we’re not happy with our progress. If you do accomplish a lot in January, you’re usually broken down and tired by February. You might take a few days off, and eventually, fall off the wagon. Give yourself time! If your goals are meant to make a large impact on your life, they will take time. Take time to divide your energy, time, and dedication to doing things the right way instead of the fast way.
3. Break it Up: There’s nothing as inspirational as wanting to refinish the basement this year or finally building that treehouse with the kids. Big goals are always a plus, but keep in mind that’s what they are. It can be overwhelming looking at all of the stuff you have to get done, decide it’s not your year and put it to rest. Break those jobs up into baby steps. Start with the basics. Make a schedule for each day. It will be much easier to handle that way and you’ll feel great by the end of the year!
4. Keep Track: Try to keep a journal or graph recording your progress. When you make smaller goals, record those goals on a weekly or even daily schedule. If you have a similar resolution to last year, think back to where you were this time in 2017. Are you doing better than before? Are there any ways you can improve? Make sure to give yourself a break and know that life gets in the way sometimes. But monitoring your progress reguaraly helps you stay on a schedule.

As we end 2017 and begin 2018, think about your year and how you can do better. Are you happy with your resolutions from 2017? Were you fair to your expectations? Give yourself a break and take it easy! Learn from your previous mistakes and use them for next years success! What are some of your favorite tips for a New Year’s Resolution? Leave your comments below!