Staying On Track With Your New Year's Resolutions!

Can you believe it's February 1st? January truly flew by! All of the great ideas we had on January 1st to improve 2016 have maybe.. probably.. okay definitely.. been pushed aside or forgotten. There were big plans of getting organized, getting in shape, eating healthier, starting a new hobby, or breaking a bad habit. But with a busy month at work or beginning school after a lengthy break, it's all to easy for our big picture goals to get pushed aside by smaller, everyday distractions. So how can you get back on track and make 2016 your best year ever?! We've put together some tips and tricks to get you re-energized and re-focused on your goals!

Keep Organized!
It sounds easy, but life often gets in the way of even our best intentions to stay uncluttered. Whether it be your desk at work, your untidy bedroom, or constantly dirty kitchen counter, these things have been scientifically proven to hinder your productivity! Studies show that physical clutter in your surroundings competes for your attention, resulting in decreased performance and increased stress. Invest a few minutes every day in de-cluttering your space, especially a place of work, and your increase in productivity will more than make up for that time you spent cleaning!

Grab a Buddy
Find someone at work, in class, a family member, a friend, or anyone who may have similar goals or interests to your own. Talk to this person about working together to make your 2016 count! You could go to the gym together, sit down and meal plan together, or just have a weekly or monthly coffee date to discuss your successes and set backs. Having someone who can relate to you and your goals, as well as be an accountability partner, can be extremely helpful and motivating!

Goal Setting
Creating small goals for yourself will keep you motivated and excited about your resolution progress! One helpful way to do this is sitting down at the beginning of every month and creating a long term goal for your month ahead. If you really want to push yourself, you could even write down smaller weekly goal(s) to complete by Sunday of every week. Breaking larger goals into smaller, more attainable action steps makes the goal(s) feel less overwhelming, and helps keeps you motivated! As you hit your smaller action steps, you feel like you're winning and are more likely to continue in your progress.

Journaling
Writing in a journal every day can help you track your resolution progress and give you the opportunity to reflect on your results! Whether you write one sentence every morning, or a few pages every night, taking this time to think will help you see the effects of your hard work. Aside from focusing on your resolutions, writing in a diary or journal can help you relax, de-stress, and unwind after a long day or week! It's also a fun time capsule to look back on in years to come.

Pat Yourself on the Back
Consider rewarding yourself for completing your small goals. You may not be successful in making progress every day or week, but that doesn’t mean you should lose sight of where you are headed. If you have an awesome workout week, treat yourself to a better fitting pair of jeans. If you manage to go the whole day without biting your nails, get a manicure! Even a small victory deserves some recognition, and celebrating yourself is never a bad idea!

How are you doing on your resolutions? Do you have any other tips and tricks to help keep yourself on track? Comment them below!

xoxo,

Michelle & Kaylyn