New Year, New You

So, 2018 has wound up and the New Year started. And, as per tradition, many of you have already set one or many New Year Resolutions.

A resolution, as per definition, means a firm decision to do or not to do something, but a New Year Resolution is like a promise to yourself. However, you can set a goal at any point of the year, New Year is still the best occasion, as our mind consider it a fresh start.

Many of us, ask someone else or search on the internet for ideas on goal setting. Frankly speaking, nobody else can tell you what your New Year Resolution should be. It's your life and it is you who should decide what you want from this year. However, one can provide some help to set up an objective, which may last for an entire year (or maybe beyond that). 

So, how to Set Goals?

Step 1: Ask yourself

Ask yourself either or all of the three questions:

What I want to be in this year?

What do I want to achieve in this year?

What (bad habit) do I want to quit in this year? 

We take some examples for this article. Suppose you want to learn a new language this year. Then the second question is for you. Learning a new speech will be an achievement for you. Likewise, if you want to quit smoking, the third question suits you. After you've decided what to do, proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Define your goal

Just a mere resolution like "I will spend more time with family" doesn't serve the purpose. You have to define the process. You have to decide, by what means you will devote your precious time to your loved ones, like unplugging from social media or by taking a vacation together. Similarly, one should define a detailed process to accomplish their goals.

Step 3: Be Specific.

Measure everything with numbers. You want to save more money this year? Specify the amount. You want to go to bed on time? State the time. This will give a more clear picture for your target. 

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Sometimes, people take New Year Resolution and after a couple of months (or sometimes weeks), either they discontinue it or forget about it. Don't let this happen to you.

So, how to stick to your goals?

Be realistic

I know, one should dream big. But come on! No one can shed 10 kgs or develop 10 hobbies in a month. A pragmatic approach is necessary. Know your limits. Trying to take way much bigger step will lead you to frustration.   

Keep Tracks

If you want to lose weight, keeping track is an obvious thing. But this is very important for other types of goals also. Like if you decided to read more books this year, maintain a record of the book you've read. This way, you can keep an eye on your progress and also it will be easier to show others about it. 

Tell Others

Unless your goals fall in a personal or confidential category, you can tell it to your family or friends. These will build a positive pressure on your mind to fulfil it. Also, your family or friend will remind you or ask about it periodically, just in case you forgot it.

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So set one or multiple goals and work on it. Don't give up and make 2019 the best year of your life. Do tell us your New Year Resolution in the comment section, unless it is very personal.

-- Purvit Soni