I know it is a bit late in the new year to talk about new year resolutions but I'm gonna do it any way. I've been thinking about this for some time now just haven't had the time to get it posted.
I personally hate new years resolutions. Once a year people make a goal with out putting any thought or planning into it so the goal remains unattainable and therefore most people fail. I also hate the idea of waiting until a new year starts to put some changes into their life. Why not make monthly, weekly or even daily goals? Here are a few tips I have for achieving the goals you set for yourself.
1. Make a list of the things you would like to get accomplished.
2. Then prioritize your list. You can make it from simplest goals to most difficult goals or just what you feel the lists order should be.
3. Start with the first goal you would like to accomplish and jot down some steps you need to make it happen.
4. Put those steps into action! Once you do that you will be knocking out the list like no bodies business!
Get creative on you keep yourself on track. Here are some examples of what I have done to keep me on track. Post its. I don't want to live in a world of post it notes all over so I keep the post its simple. Such as my goal to drink only water limiting myself to 1 small cup of coffee only if I really needed it and 1 juice with my weekend breakfast. This seems like an easy goal that wouldn't take much thought or prep, right? That is what I thought until a few different occasions I caught myself drinking pop! So I have a post it on the refrigerator at home and by my desk at work just as a friendly reminder. Its helpful to me, it reminds that I have a goal that I'm trying to reach.
Here is a more in depth example. I have taken on a second job to eliminate some of the debt that I'm carrying. The first few weeks I let happen exactly what I didn't want to happen. I was spending job 2 money on going out, eating and clothes when I should have been paying down debt. So I listed all the items I'd like to clear up with this 2nd job. Then I listed them from the smallest amount to the largest (you can also do from highest interest to the lowest if you really want to save some money). So now I pay the minimums on all accounts except for the one at the top of my list. The debt at the top I pay as much as I can until it hurts me a bit. When it is paid off I don't have to pay to it anymore and now I can go to the next item and pay until it hurts and so on and so forth. This is also known in the financial world as the snow ball effect.
Ok so back to the topic of resolutions. Don't wait for a new year to start to make positive changes in your life. Every day is another chance and you waiting for the new year is selling yourself short. They say habits take 21 days to make or break. Try setting monthly goals.
My goals for January are as follows: Only drink water, Make it a point to acknowledge each person I pass (treating others the way I'd like to be treated) and to continue my financial goals. These are small attainable goals, especially with a plan!
