Begin the New Year By Creating New Goals

If you're looking for ways to begin the New Year right, then you should definitely start with a list of personal goals and dreams. Begin the New Year by writing down your New Year's Resolutions. You can even add small goals like "I will work out more" or "I will eat healthier." This gives you something to look forward to on January 1st every day. Start the New Year off right by taking care of these smaller, but crucial, tasks.

Your list needs to be as detailed and exact as possible. Write down everything on a sheet of paper. It doesn't have to be a long list. In fact, you might just want to keep it a page or two long, just long enough to where you can glance at it and know exactly what you want to accomplish. A few short sentences should be all that is necessary for your list.

Your goals should also be written out in specific detail. Tell them exactly what you hope to accomplish. For example, if you want to lose weight, write down how many pounds you want to lose. Write down whether you want to do it slowly or quickly. State clearly what you plan to do.

Be sure to include any New Year's Resolutions you may have as well. Begin the New Year by asking God for His help and protection for you. Tell Him that you are willing to make any improvements needed throughout your life, including your diet, fitness, and finances. He wants you to succeed and to enjoy your new lifestyle. By starting out right with your goals, you have a better chance of actually reaching them.

Start making a list of all the good things you did this past year. Begin each list with an exclamation mark and finish it with a question like, "Was there anything important?" The answer to that last question may be your greatest accomplishment this year. Begin writing down goals for this New Year to motivate yourself. You will find that when you have a list, you often have more determination than when you do not. Also, write your goals down so you have something to look forward to each day.

Make a promise to yourself to treat yourself to at least one thing for each day of the year. This could be a trip to your favorite restaurant, a long walk on the beach, or time with a special someone. Also, when you make a promise to yourself, you must keep to it. If you don't, you will lose the purpose of your promises, and this could lead to discouragement. Always remember to put the date of your promise on a calendar near your bed.

Begin putting into practice the skills and behaviors that will help you achieve your goals. Get rid of bad habits that are detrimental to your success, such as procrastination, laziness, and poor job performance. When you have new goals for the New Year, start practicing the skills and behaviors that will lead you to your new goal. For example, if you want to lose weight this year, start walking every morning after breakfast.

Lastly, learn to say no. Sometimes we want things badly enough but don't have the energy to do what it takes to accomplish them. Don't let yourself procrastinate because you know you need a vacation or that you want to attend a conference this coming weekend. The saying "no" can be a great motivator and it can also help you realize all of your goals sooner than you thought possible.