To celebrate the start of 2021, we've been talking about maintaining a healthy balance in the new year. We've looked at a handy (and free!) booklet for reflecting and goal setting, and we've talked about the beauty of "any time" resolutions.
Now that we have healthy goals and a template for resetting, we want to dive into seven scientifically proven ways to stay on track. (We know how highly goal-oriented our athletes are, so this is especially targeted for you all!)
"If you can't measure it, you can't improve it!" Make sure to set a specific goal that you can track week-to-week or month-to-month. Check out this guide that will help you create SMART goals that will stick!
Exchange your ideas with family or a close friend - it is easier and more fun to stay motivated when you have a buddy holding you accountable.
Set a goal that you are passionate about. Your resolution should not be something that other people want from you, but something you want for yourself!
See if you can use an existing habit to build upon your goal (a revolutionary concept known as habit stacking). For example, if you want to start meditating daily, use your morning cup of coffee or tea as a marker for when you will meditate.
If you want to set multiple goals at a time, keep this number limited and make sure you are not trying to juggle too many things at once.
Assess your progress regularly. This might mean a jotting down a brief weekly recap, looking at what you did well and what you need to work on, or creating a visual tracker if you want to have a little more fun with it.
Check in with yourself! As you go along, ask yourself:
Is this the most efficient way of going about achieving my goal?
Who would be a knowledgeable person to talk to about this subject matter?
Is there a friend who would like to partner up with me on this resolution so that I am more motivated and excited?
What resources should I look at that would be of use to me?
By the way, remember that it is perfectly human to get discouraged from time to time. Goals and resolutions are tricky to maintain, so check out this article for some bonus motivation! It's okay to fall down - just keep getting back up.
We're rooting for you!