Step 1. Set yourself ONE major resolution that YOU are wholly committed to achieving.
Too many people make a list of vague generalities that they think would be good to achieve without ever feeling any deep emotional commitment to them, or they set resolutions according to other people's expectations.
It is much better to make one single resolution and focus your whole attention on achieving it.
Step 2. Ask yourself what you would be willing to give up in order to achieve your goal.
For example you may want to learn a new language, but would you be willing to cut down on the amount of time you spend watching television in order to achieve that goal? More specifically are there any particular programmes that you would be willing to stop watching so that you can make time to study?
Every benefit comes with a cost. If you are not willing to pay the cost of giving something up in order to achieve your goal then you should not make that goal your New Year's resolution.
Step 3. Be specific.
Most people's New Year's resolutions are couched in the vaguest of terms. You need to be as specific as possible in order to maintain your focus. Make sure your goals are challenging but achievable, measurable and fixed within a clear time frame. If you plan to lose weight, how much, and by when?
Step 4. Set some short term goals.
Cut up your big aim into a series of smaller steps to help you stay motivated.
Step 5. Keep track of your progress.
Write everything down, including your short term goals and keep a record of your progress. Make a point of ticking off your short term goals as you achieve them.
This way you will continually spur yourself on with renewed motivation each time you complete one of the small steps towards your larger goal.
Step 6. Treat yourself.
Write out a scheme of rewards for each completed step on the way to fulfilling your resolution. Knowing that you will be able to treat yourself to a particular reward on achieving the goal will give you further incentive to achieve it!
Step 7. Go public!
Make yourself publicly accountable for your resolutions. Go and tell your friends and family, or set up a blog and go public with your resolution and the progress you make towards it.
This is one of the best ways to ensure that you will make more of an effort to achieve your goal!
The topic in this article is motivation!
Now that we've all created a resolution that is specific, measureable, achievable, realistic and time-bound the question is how do we stay motivated to achieve that resolution?
As it turns out, there's no "magic motivation formula" out there. If such a potion existed, someone would be selling it and two-thirds of the United States wouldn't be overweight!
Even though there's no such thing as a "secret motivational magic-wand", there are some things we can do to help motivate ourselves to exercise more and eat less. The thing to remember is that not every idea will work for every person. We are all individuals with individual personalities and individual needs! So, what motivates you might not motivate me.
That being said, let's look at some motivation tools that have worked for others. Perhaps we'll find some that will work for us.
1) Inform your friends, partners and others about your goals and get their support. For some of us, there's nothing more motivating than a spouse or friend that supports us.
2) Buddy up with a co-worker to exercise on your lunch hour. Hold each other accountable!
3) Write down your New Year Resolution and post it on your 'fridge.
4) Write down your measurements and/or weight and post it on the 'fridge.
5) Hang a picture of yourself on the 'fridge.
6) Listen to motivational tapes - for example, Tony Robbins is excellent.
7) Get a fitness education by reading fitness magazines and books. Knowledge is power!
8) Hang up pictures of beautiful, thin models as an example of what you're trying to achieve.
9) Get some "skinny clothes" out of the closet and hang them up where you'll see them every day.
10) Buy a bikini and hang it up where you'll see it every day.
11) Keep a food journal, writing down every single thing you eat all day.
12) Keep an exercise journal and record in it your exercise sessions.
13) Talk with your doctor about the benefits of exercise.
14) Research and write down as many benefits of exercise as you can - hint: there are more than forty! This can be a very motivating process!
15) Draw a picture of yourself at your goal weight. Post it where you'll see it daily.
16) Promise yourself that you'll treat yourself to a massage, hair color, or whatever when you lose the first 10 pounds.
17) Get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked by your doctor. Post the results on the 'fridge and promise to have them re-checked in six months.
18) Join a weight control club like TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) or Weight Watchers.
19) Find a friend or co-worker that is also trying to exercise more often. Bet him or her $25 that you can exercise more days in a row than they can! Once you've won that bet, do it again by betting double-or-nothing!
20) Take the "fat clothes" that you're now too small for and get rid of them! Give them to charity, burn them, whatever - just get them out of the house! You won't need them again!
There are just a few ideas that we can use to help motivate ourselves. No single motivational technique will work for everyone, but each technique will work for someone!
Both David Hurley & Tracie Johanson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
David Hurley has sinced written about articles on various topics from Business Loans, Email Advertising and Internet Marketing. David Hurley lives in Japan and is the owner of Grasp-The-Nettle.com. David writes on a variety of subjects including personal and business success mentoring, and Internet marketing techniques. Click the link to learn more about developing Internet market. David Hurley's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.
Tracie Johanson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Lose Weight and Nutrition. Tracie Johanson is the founder of Pick Up The Pace, a 30-minute exercise studio for women focusing on fitness, health and nutrition for maximum weight loss. Please visit. Tracie Johanson's top article generates over 1500000 views. to your Favourites.