5 Minute Friday - Issue #20 - To Stick or Not To Stick To New Year's Resolutions 🎯
It's almost the end of the year & it'll be time to set those new year's resolutions!
Welcome to the 20th issue of 5 Minute Friday from The Backpack CPA! Every Friday I share a short email with tips & resources to get you thinking about your Professional & Personal Development!
Let's start "growing" through our human journey instead of just "going" through it!
First A few words from a wise person…
“Sometimes a year has been so disastrous and so terrible that entering a new year will automatically mean entering a wonderful year!” ~Mehmet Murat Ildan
💪 Professional & Personal Development
To Stick or Not To Stick To New Year's Resolutions 🎯
Wow, this year just flew by & it’ll be 2023 in a couple of days! This means it’ll be time to set those “New Year’s resolutions!” By definition resolution means a firm decision to do or not to do something. We (*most of us) like to set goals for ourselves at the beginning of the new year. We usually do this because we want to improve our lives or make changes in our behavior. With good intentions, we create our list of resolutions, and then with a high level of enthusiasm & energy, we set out to sign up for the necessary gym memberships or go buy a month’s worth of healthy groceries so we can hit the ground running in the new year!
If you were to ask 100 people how many actually stuck to their 2022 New Year’s resolutions, less than 10 of them will have actually stayed committed and accomplished them (heard/read this stat before, but can’t remember the source).
So why are most people not able to stick to their New Year's resolutions? Some people might not have picked a realistic goal, while others might not have set a specific plan on how to achieve their resolution. Additionally, some people might simply lose motivation over time or get sidetracked by other things in their life.
I’ve compiled a list of five tips to help you stick to your resolutions & accomplish them.
1. Set a realistic goal
One of the most important things you can do when setting a New Year's resolution is to make sure that your goal is realistic. If your goal is too ambitious, you're likely to get frustrated and give up. On the other hand, if your goal is too small, you may not see the motivation to stick with it. Try to find a balance between the two.
2. Make a plan
Once you've set your goal, it's time to make a plan of how you're going to achieve it. This step is important because it will help to keep you on track and accountable. Write down what you need to do each day, week, or month in order to reach your goal.
3. Find a support system
It can be helpful to find someone who shares your same goal so that you can support each other through the process. If you don't have anyone in mind, there are plenty of online communities and forums where you can connect with others who are working on similar resolutions.
4. Be prepared for setbacks
No matter how well you plan or how determined you are, there will be times when you slip up. It's important to be prepared for these setbacks and have a plan for how you'll get back on track. Remember that everyone makes mistakes and that the important thing is to learn from them and move on.
5. Celebrate your success
Last but not least, don't forget to celebrate your success along the way! Give yourself small rewards for reaching milestones so that you stay motivated. And once you've finally reached your goal, give yourself a big pat on the back—you did it!
Whatever the reason may be, it's important to remember that it's okay to slip up occasionally - the key is to keep trying and never give up entirely on your goal. Finally, it is essential to believe in yourself and your ability to accomplish your goals.
📗💡 Learning/Tools
On this theme of New Year’s resolutions, I thought I’d share a couple of ideas to help us stay focused on our goals. One thing I believe is the simpler the tool, the more likely we are to use it. With that being said, the simplest tools for planning, tracking & staying focused are either a journal & calendar or your phone’s calendar & notes apps. For example, you can use a calendar to help you stay on track, or set reminders on your phone to help you remember what you need to do. Or you could also write things down in a journal.
There are plenty of apps/websites out there to help with goals & habits, but just remember to keep it simple & find something that works best for you! See you next year!
Happy New Year to you & your loved ones!
If you want to chat about anything feel free to send me a message or even book a time to chat https://calendly.com/vbcpa/thebackpackcpa
Stay inspired & keep growing 🚀,
Vimal (or Vic)
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