Skip to content

5 easy steps to keep your new year resolution


Reading Time: 3 minutes

Yet another year has passed. 365 days since we last made up our mind to change something. If you are one of the select few who managed to uphold their new year’s resolution, congratulations ! To those like me who have forgotten what their resolution was, or had a difficult time sticking to their decisions, read on. This article is for you !resolution

Around this time of the year “New Year’s resolutions” are all the rage. Most conversations glance upon resolutions and life changes set to occur in the coming year. Saving money, completing a degree, healthy eating, kicking a habit, traveling more and getting regular exercise are common, recurrent goals that people set for themselves. Some resolutions stand the test of time, while others wither away faster than you can say “happy new year”.

In this article we shall discuss 5 super simple  steps that can help you reach your goals !

You will need a pen and  a paper before you start !

  1. Step one – learn to set goals – Most people often wonder where to start and really don’t put much effort into setting goals. Before your resolutions are made in blood, it is good to start out with a few goals. Take a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle, on the left of the line write down the things that you would like to change in yourself. It could be anything, ranging from the color of your hair to your sexual orientation. On the right side, write down what you want change those things into. Spend some time doing this, ponder over it for a few days and then put it down on paper.
  2. Step two – Prioritize – Assign scores (out of ten) to the things that you have listed out on step one. For example, loosing weight may be 9/10, whereas, buying a new car can be 4/10. Again introspect while assigning scores. If you end up with a long list of things with similar importance, you need to dig deeper. What do you want to prioritize ? Which one’s are more important.  Choose the top three and write them down. There are the only three you will initially focus on. You can gradually begin moving down your list in descending order of priority. 
  3. Step three -One day at a time – Break down your resolutions into short term goals. Objectives that are to be achieved every day or every week. For example – If you wanted to quit smoking – focus on quitting one day at a time. If you resolved to be fitter, hit the gym – one day at a time. What you do today should be in line with what you want tomorrow. If you wanted to buy a car, start saving ! Today !
  4. Step four – Keep it in sight – Write down what you do everyday, maintain a journal. Record your progress. Very often, we stumble and slip many times before clambering our way up to our final goals. That’s okay ! It is far more important to get up and keep going at it. Tell you friends your goals, discuss failures with loved one’s, they will keep you going. It’s okay if you fail, but learn from failure and move on !
  5. Step five – Be kind to  yourself ! Don’t work yourself to death as you try to reach your goals! Take breaks, travel, live a little. Be cool ! Learn to forgive yourself for mistakes. You don’t have to let go of a goal because you failed. Do not beat yourself up over failure ! Be kind, smile a little but always keep your goals in sight.

Here are a few quotes to keep you at it ! Write some on the first page of your goal journal !

“Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays, but never lose sight of your goal. Prepare yourself in every way you can by increasing your knowledge and adding to your experience, so that you can make the most of opportunity when it occurs.” — Mario Andretti

“If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy and inspires your hopes.” — Andrew Carnegie

“We do not develop anything with one giant step. No matter who you are, or what you do, each one of us had had to take a lot of individual steps to accomplish a task, a job, a career, or even a hobby.” — Catherine Pulsifer

“Anyone can be remarkable, if they have something truly remarkable to do. Set remarkable goals for yourself and get to work on achieving them. Then, watch in amazement as you become remarkable.” — Marelisa Fábrega, owner of Daring to Live Fully.

“You can conquer almost any fear if you will make up your mind to do so. For remember, fear doesn’t exist anywhere except in the mind.” — Dale Carnegie

You can do it !

A guide to setting goals.