The New Year is about to cross the threshold. With it, comes the desire to make lasting changes in our lives. Statistics on New Year’s Resolutions are interesting. U.S. News did a survey and found 80 percent of these resolutions fail by the second week in February. Even though the statistics look bleak, you can still manage to be in the top 8 percent who actually make your resolutions stick.
WHY PEOPLE DON’T ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS
Most resolutions fail because people are not realistic about their expectations. Too often, people make long lists of things they hope to change or achieve over the next year. They may start out with good intentions, but before long those goals fall by the wayside.
When goals are not properly defined, they are nearly impossible to reach. Too many resolutions are vague. “I want to lose weight” might be a great goal, but it is not defined. In fact, it is more like a wish than a resolution. Without the right mindset, the goal will not be reached. You may have a desire to lose weight, but are you also willing to do the necessary work to take off the pounds?
Lack of focus keeps people from achieving, also. There are many distractions bombarding each of us. If we have not disciplined ourselves to be focused, achieving the goals will be futile. Along with focus is time management. There are many things, both important and frivolous, vying for our attention on a regular basis. Prioritizing and managing our time wisely is important.
THE KEYS TO MAKING NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS STICK
You can get into that small percentage of people who actualize their New Year’s resolutions by doing a few key things. First, when you make your resolution, define the goal in detail. You want an outcome that’s measurable, and you want to give yourself a reasonable amount of time to accomplish it. You also need to define how you plan on achieving the goal. Successful people make a point of doing one thing daily or on a regular basis that will bring them closer to their goal.
Another important key is to be realistic about what you want to achieve. Take on one thing at a time and focus on just that goal. If your New Year’s Resolution is to lose weight during the next year, decide how much weight you plan to lose and decide to lose, for instance, a pound a week. That’s a loss of 52 pounds by this time next year. For some people, a half pound a week might be more realistic. Whatever your resolution is, break it down into smaller, more manageable steps.
THE 3 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS YOU CAN KEEP
One resolution you can keep is to resolve to find out how to have success with your New Year’s Resolutions. The other two are the resolutions on which you focus – apply everything you learned about how to succeed in keeping your resolutions throughout the year. Remember: Life is hard by the yard but by the inch, it’s a cinch.
Here’s wishing you a very happy and prosperous New Year from the lawyers who care. Contact Frohlich, Gordon & Beason, P.A., for your business litigation needs or for legal help with a personal injury case. We proudly serve Southwest Florida through our offices located in North Port, Port Charlotte, and Englewood.