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Make 2012 the year you keep your resolutions and change your life for the better!
Whether you want to lose weight, get healthier, spend more time with your family, write a novel or any other dream or scheme you can think of, these ten principles will help you reach your goal!
Follow these ten tips and you’ll still be going strong on your 2012 New Years resolution come April, August and November!
1. Make It A Goal
Some resolutions can be too vague to be actionable. Turn your resolution into a goal. The difference between a resolution and a goal is that you know when you’ve met a goal.
2. Be Specific
Don’t be vague! A goal to lose weight is vague. More specifically your goal might be to eat small, healthy meals, do cardio for an hour a day and lift weights every other day for 30 minutes until you lose 10 pounds, lower your blood pressure by 30 points and are able do 50 push ups. See the difference?
3. Write It Down
List your goals. Only a small percent of people actually take the time to write down their goals. Welcome to that small percent.
4. Break Them Into Actionable Steps
Divide your goal into small actionable steps. For example, if you want to write a novel you might…
- Think of 20 plots.
- Choose one.
- Outline the chapters.
- Write each chapter.
- Edit.
- Have someone else edit.
- Search for publishers etc.
5. Be Realistic
Losing 20 pounds in a weekend is unlikely, losing 20 pounds before swimsuit season is completely feasible. If you set your goals unrealistically you might start to feel helpless and fall off the wagon before the ride gets started!
6. Share Your Resolution
By sharing your dreams and desires with friends and family you hold yourself accountable and breathe life into your goals.
7. Keep Visual Reminders
Wear a ring, hang a note on your bathroom mirror or keep a note or photo in your wallet reminding you of your goal.
8. Visualize The End Results
Focusing on the end results can give you the motivation to get started. Close your eyes and imagine what you’ll look like on the beach, how your bank account will look or how your novel will be bound!
9. Reward Yourself
Find small ways to reward yourself when you go a certain amount of time maintaining your resolution or meet a goal.
10. Use Software That Helps You Track Your Progress
Check out sites like Stickk.com, Bucketlist.net and FitDay.com which help you check in with your goals on a regular basis.
The Balanced Life Wellness Office
is located at:
23591 El Toro Rd.
Suite 292
Lake Forest, CA 92630
949-554-5003
pam@balancedlifewellness.org
*Text excerpts taken from Bread for the Journey, by Henri J.M. Nouwen, ©1997 HarperSanFrancisco. All Scripture from The Jerusalem Bible ©1966, 1967, and 1968 Darton, Longman & Todd and Doubleday & Co. Inc. Photo by V. Dobson.
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