Keeping New Year's resolutions — or resolutions in general — doesn't have a very high success rate. Here are some statistics by Opinion Corporation of Princeton, NJ. Only 8% of people are always successful at achieving their resolutions, with 24% failing every time.
The rest of the population falls somewhere in between with 19% successful about half of the time and 49% achieving infrequent success. However, there is a simple three step approach that can help anyone reach the goals they set. Below are also some handy "tips and tricks" that help people on their way to success.
3 Steps to Success for Achieving Goals
The first step to success is planning ahead. No matter whether the goal is losing weight, quitting smoking, or fixing finances, a plan is essential for success. A written plan with a clearly identified goal is ideal.
"Losing some weight" is not a good goal; "losing 20 pounds" is a good goal. Even though they may seem like the same thing, this difference is very important when it comes to long term success. Then, write down some concrete steps or actions that are going to be taken to reach the goal. It doesn't matter whether a person plans to run a marathon or lose five pounds, he still has to take actual actions to achieve the goal.
The second step is the one that almost everyone jumps immediately to-attempting to implement change. What change is taking place? The breaking of old habits and the replacing of them with the steps and actions already written out. Implementing change is easy to do in the short term. Long term change, which is necessary to achieve most goals, requires the step below.
The last and final step for success is to expect and account for the occasional relapse. Even the most well-intentioned and dedicated of people occasionally have a small relapse. Again, it doesn't matter if it is eating a few doughnuts or making an unplanned purchase, small failures are going to happen.
By planning and accounting for slight relapses, a person has already been proactive against failure. Underneath the written record of the goal, possible relapse behaviors and their solutions should be written down. And once relapse occurs, it is important to get right back on track. Keeping a resolution will almost always come down to long-term dedication and the following of these steps.
Other Tips and Tricks to Succeed in Meeting Goals
Despite the straight-forwardness of the above steps, there are small tips and tricks that people use to succeed. They are always a personal preference- some work for some people, others don't. Use the ideas below as needed.
- Break the larger goal into smaller steps, such as halves or quarters. Only focus on the smaller goal at any one time and try to forget about the larger goal until ready to move on to the next portion.
- Set a specific timetable. Many people quote the phrase "someday isn't a day of the week." By setting a timetable, procrastination is partially avoided.
- Make a list of the positive results of reaching the goal.
- Have mile marks along the way that are rewarded with small treats.
- Post the goal on sticky-notes throughout the house.
- Spend five minutes each day mentally tracking progress and congratulating recent achievements.
- Write down motivational sayings and quotes, posting them around the house.
- Find new activities to replace old indulgences- such as sugar-free candy instead of cigarettes or visiting public parks or a movie instead of shopping.
- Tell others about your goal.
- Hold yourself accountable by physically writing down progress and failures.
Every Moment is a Chance to Succeed
No goal is achieved in a single day. Effort is rewarded over time. To reach a truly important goal, one must continue to work for it. Too many people make one small slip and give up. When working through the steps above or when using the tips above, always remember that New Year's resolutions — or other promises — are easily broken. But every moment is a chance to turn it all around and succeed in the long run.
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