When you make a “New Year’s Resolution”, your intentions are to follow through and to accomplish your goal, right? Why is it, then, that only 8% of Americans reach the goals that they set for their New Year’s Resolutions?
According to StatisticBrain.com, the #1 New Year’s Resolution for 2015 was “To Lose Weight”. We all know that gym memberships increase significantly in January, but the gym is empty by the end of February. Well, most gyms are. Not ours 😉 To find out why, read this blog from a few months ago!
At KW Fitness, we have seen hundreds of people achieve their goals (and then some)! We don’t give our clients a “magic pill” or a “quick fix”. We help them develop habits that last.
Here are 7 fool-proof ways to make sure you hit your goals for the upcoming year:
1) Write your goals down
The first step to achieving a goal is to write it down. Without writing it down, it’s only a dream or a wish! Simply stating your goals is not enough. Rick Warren said “Thoughts untangle themselves when they pass through the lips, through the fingertips and onto a piece of paper”. When you write out exactly what it is that you want, you start to envision yourself achieving it.
2) Put your written goals where you can see them
At KW Fitness, we have our clients write their goals down and put them on their refrigerators. Why? So they can SEE them! The refrigerator is the most visited/used appliance in the home!
When I was the top sales rep for a marketing company, the goals that I achieved were written on post-it notes and stuck to my refrigerator, my bathroom mirror, and even my steering wheel! Seeing your goals daily helps you to keep your eyes on the prize.
3) Have strong “why’s”
What is going to fire you up to keep pushing yourself when the going gets tough? If your goal is to lose weight and exercise consistently, your “whys” have to be strong enough to get you out of bed in the morning when your workout is scheduled for 6AM and your bed is nice and cozy!! What are your “why’s”?!
We often hear things like:
– “I want to keep up with my kids/grandkids”
– “I want to fit into my favorite jeans”
– “I want to look better than ever at my 30 year reunion”
-” I want to change my family tree”
– “I want my next doctor’s visit to be shocking (in a good way)”
– “I want to run my first 5K/marathon/half marathon”
I’m sure you get the idea! Make sure your why’s are strong and and make them personal! Dig deep. I have a friend who’s goal was to eat much healthier and exercise consistently because she was having trouble getting pregnant. That is a pretty powerful “why”. You don’t have to share them with anyone if you don’t want to, but put your “why’s” somewhere you can see them so they are a constant reminder of why you set this goal in the first place!
4) Make a plan
Once you figure out the why, map out exactly how you are going to get there. If your goal is to save a certain amount of money, map out how much you need to save per week. If your goal is to get healthy, map out how many days per week you should workout and what you should be eating. Are you stuck in this area? Most people can’t do it alone- seek out a professional! WE CAN HELP YOU!!
5) Execute
Enough said. Don’t let the time spent planning go to waste! You owe it to yourself to follow through on what you said you were going to do.
6) Have credible accountability
Have a positive, uplifting accountability partner! Our clients love our trainers because they dedicate their lives to helping others increase the length of theirs. When the going gets tough, frustrating, or seemingly impossible, having the right people to push you through those challenging times will ensure that you achieve your goals.
7) Don’t give up when it gets tough
Let’s face it, it’s going to get tough! Any goal that is worth pursuing is going to have bumps in the road. Are you going to view them as roadblocks? Or use them as stepping stones?
When you feel like giving up, our advice is to visualize the end result. Literally close your eyes and immerse yourself in your mind… think to yourself “where am I going to be at the end of the year? How am I going to feel?”.
Sara Blakely, successful entrepreneur and founder of Spanx, said “Having a mental snapshot of where you are, where you are going, and what you are moving toward is incredibly powerful.” Visualizing the end result is key to turning a measly “New Year’s Resolution” into a goal that has been achieved!
For more guidance on making 2016 your Best Year Ever, check out this video by author Robin Sharma. We have used it for the last few years to help us with goal setting for our personal and professional lives and we highly recommend it!
Here’s to making 2016 the best year of your life (so far)!
— Mandy Webb, KW Fitness Co-Owner