subject: Staying Motivated Through the Rest of the Year [print this page] Staying Motivated Through the Rest of the Year
January is over, February is here, and it's time for the question: How are those New Year resolutions you made one month ago working out for you? Are you still motivated to drop a few pounds, balance your budget, organize your home, get up earlier in the morning, get to bed at a decent hour, or continue with whatever goal you set for yourself? Unfortunately, now is about the time that most people falter in their objectives. But just the fact that you set some goals and were hopeful a month ago means that you aren't most people. You can do what you planned, even if it means you need to evaluate and even alter a few of your ambitions. So what can you do to get that motivation back? Here are a few ideas to help inspire you and keep you encouraged and focused on those 2011 changes you wanted to make:1. Remember the feeling. Bring to your mind the passion you felt when you first set your goal. Spend a few moments and try to get that feeling back. This is something that was important to you. Why was it important? Remember the reason and then keep the purpose for your goal and the end result in mind.2. What's the plan? Just because you want something doesn't mean you're you going to get it. You must have a plan. And you need to write it down! If you have already put your plan on paper, get it out and read it again. If you don't have a plan, now is the perfect time to get one. Write it down and refer back to it often. This will help you stay on track.3. Whose with you? Trying to conquer a troublesome habit or start a good new one is always easier if you have friends and family to support you. Do you have a support buddy that you are accountable to? If not, see if you can pull in a few friends or family. They are going to be your cheerleaders and lift you up through your journey. If your goal is something you'd rather keep private, have your journal be your support buddy. 4. Keeping track. It's a great idea to have a reliable place to track your progress. It can be as simple as a small notebook, or do it with an online program. You just need some place to measure and track your goal. By tracking and measuring it on a regular basis you can find more inspiration from your successes or motivation from when you slip. It's hard to report a failure, so you're more likely to succeed so you can track that great feeling.5. Tweak it. Don't be afraid to adjust some of your goals. Your available time may have changed, or maybe some health issues have cleared up. Whatever the reason, don't stop setting goals. Fine-tuning your intentions is what successful people do.By following these few steps you'll be well on your way to keeping those New Year's resolutions you set a month ago. If they were important to you then, they are still important to you now. Come on, you can do it!
