To give you an example of what I mean. I have a goal to weed out the kids bookcases and donate the books they no longer need or want to a local charity. That is an easy enough goal to accomplish and I can accomplish it easy enough.
A harder, more drawn out goal is to loose weight. Ideally I’d love to loose 150, but I know if I set that as my goal I’ll probably fail. To make it easier to reach that goal I need to break it down into smaller goals, such as 10 pounds at a time.
Here is a great article by Dr. Daniela Schreier that will help you to achieve the goals you set for yourself.
People have plenty of New Year’s resolutions but they rarely stick. Unrealistic self-appraisals and time commitments are the root of failed promises. Here are some quick tips for staying the course in 2010:
1. Take time to identify your goals and make them realistic. Then commit them to written words—and refer to them often.
2. Limit yourself to five goals. We have five fingers at the end of each arm. This will prevent your reach from exceeding the hand you were dealt.
3. Be precise and detailed as to what you like to achieve over the next 12 months.
4. Be realistic. Don’t commit to working out seven times a week when you know you can’t manage three. In other words, don’t set yourself up for failure.
Break each goal down to small but achievable steps.
5. Have a weekly check-list ready to track your time investment and progress. Remember: Rome was not built in a day.
6. Become your own best friend: Motivate – don’t punish – yourself.
7. Put it on your calendar. For example, if you plan to work out three times a week –mark it down. Then you have made an appointment with yourself.
8. Develop habits, good habits. Habits are formed by repeating a new task. Generally, it takes 30 days to form and maintain a new habit. Commit yourself completely to the first 30 days. You will find it becomes part of your routine.
9. Be ready for relapse. Stuff happens, we fall of the wagon. But relapse is not the issue. The real issue is realizing and dealing with the circumstances at hand. If you’ve missed a few workouts, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, start again tomorrow—with twice the determination.
10. Remember Rule Number 1: If you can’t love yourself, who can you love? Seriously, how we see ourselves colors every aspect of our lives. Confidence requires self-respect. We need to celebrate what we do accomplish. So work your plan. And remember to remember: Your life today is a summary of your past choices!
Dr. Schreier is a licensed clinical psychologist. Specializing in health psychology, testing, assessment, relationship counseling, stress, and multicultural issues, her Chicago practice provides services in multiple languages. Dr. Schreier is a frequent guest on local network news shows. She is the lead psychologist of S.M.A.R.T. Living LLC , and serves as Assistant Professor on the Faculty of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. E-mail Dr. Schreier.
http://drschreier.com
http://drschreier.blogspot.com
http://chicagowalkandtalk.com
http://thecolorsoftherainbow.com
*I was not compensated in any way for this post. I posted this for the benefit of my blog readers.