It’s that time of year again… When the New Years resolutions are flying around and people are convincing themselves this is the year to make some major life changes. In the happy haze of what remains of your vacation days, no bar seems too high. You’re fully prepared to leave this version of yourself behind.. Well wait… One more slice of left over Christmas cake for now—but once the clock strikes midnight on January 1, everything will change: You’ll be better, fitter, more confident, and altogether more together in the New Year ;)
So how do we go about sticking to those New Years resolutions which by the end of January seem so unachievable… Well here’s 3 hacks for achieving your goals this year!!
Write your goals down
Writing down your goals holds you accountable for your achievements or failures. When you don’t have a plan, you don’t know how you will reach your destination.
There will always be doubters against written goals as they require substantial behavioural change which will be resisted, as the brain is wired to seek rewards and avoid pain or fear. When fear or failure creeps into the mind of the goal setter it becomes a demotivator with a desire to return to known. However jotting down specific goals with small wins along the way will help you in achieving your overall goal.
If you set a goal with no deadline that sense of urgency will fall wayward and you become less accountable for any failures. If you are not sure how to goal set - check out - the Progress Journal by Performance Lab au and that will help guide you through the stages.
Get Into a Routine
In order to get things done it can be useful to get your body into a routine. Make those daily habits for success become an everyday occurrence. If your aim for example is compete in an Ironman by the end of the year and you hate swimming. Then set your alarm early, get up, get out and get in the pool. If you do that everyday and set goals in the pool of the distance you swim - you will be closer to your overall goal than if you had no routine.
Routine helps instil good habits, become more efficient and proficient and also helps to build momentum towards your goals.
Change your Identify
This may seem like a strange one. But when we say change your identity - we mean you have to change who you think you are in order to achieve your new goals. You can be taught the necessary skills to perform certain tasks required but underneath the knowledge and skills associated with the activities in order to truly succeed you need to change your identify before a behaviour change will occur. Set images, feelings and words around the person you want to be. I will be an Ironman, I will eat healthier etc.
Adopt a reward as well for achieving tasks and hitting milestones and have punishments for not hitting certain tasks or milestones. This will hold you more accountable and will ensure you reinforce the positive achievements and avoid not hitting targets.
If you haven’t already, try adding these into your 2018 plans and go out there and smash it!!