Keeping up with resolutions

At the start of the year, I published a blog on New Year’s resolutions. We are now almost halfway through the year, and I am certain that many people out there have already lost that burst of motivation they felt in January. Tell me this: are you still determined to achieve your resolutions for the year, or have you faded back to your old habits?

In the ideal world, we are constantly motivated to grow and better ourselves. Sadly, the reality is that many of us will return to ineffective routines and habits instead of critically evaluating and challenging ourselves.

January feels like the one chance we have in the year to lay out where we want to take ourselves. Of course, this feeling comes from the fact that the New Year serves as a punctuation mark. It is the end of one thing and the start of another. We see it as a clean slate; the perfect opportunity to reflect on the past and begin afresh.

Another reason why we tend to make goal setting an annual activity is simply because we are stretching ourselves. We see that there is a gap between where we want to be and where we are now. Goal setting makes many people uncomfortable; it is almost like saying to yourself, “I could be more than what I am now.” Yes, setting goals can be painful, but it is essential to achieving growth in your career, business and personal life. The aim is to make sure that you can retain your enthusiasm beyond the 1st of January so that you can stay focused on betterment and growth.

Keep that enthusiasm

Thinking about what you want to do next is something you can do on a more regular basis. It is easy to push this to the back of your mind, especially at this time of the year. That’s why it is a good idea to have regular check-ins with yourself to assess and reflect on your progress. This can help you see where you want to improve and ensure that you continue to track your development.

Ideally, you should focus on self-improvement all year long. Create a habit – a good habit and just stick with it, no matter what. It is challenging and confronting to identify areas where you are falling short, but it’s a key part of the process and your eventual success. Keep going at it and don’t give up. Having a growth-centred mentality that will definitely take you to your happy place!