From The Straits Times    |

 

We’re six months into 2019 and if you’ve fallen off the bandwagon when it comes to meeting your new year’s resolutions or you haven’t begun at all, because, life, here are some things you can do to get back on. It’s not too late to begin! We’ve compiled 10 ways that you can get back on track with your new year’s resolutions, and fulfil them just in time for the end of the year.

 

1. Adjust Your Goals

 

 

We’re not saying you’ve got to aim low but, now that we’re half a year into 2019, perhaps it’s best to adjust your goals so that they’re realistic enough for you to accomplish in time.

For example, if your goal was to lose 5kg by the end of 2019, adjust it to 2.5kg first and work towards that. Progress is after all, progress! Give yourself a pat on the back when you’ve reached it. You might just surprise yourself and work even harder to accomplish your initial goal.

 

2. Get Rid of That Negative Mindset

 

Often, what stops us from achieving our goals is our mindset and our thoughts. Once you’ve adjusted your goals, keep a positive mindset and think of these goals as an opportunity to better yourself.

Instead of thinking, “Gosh, I can never save money!”, try this instead: “Well, I still have six months to save as much as I can and if I continue to save consistently, I could have so much more at the end of the year!”

 

3. Get Your Friends or Partner On Board

 

 

After you’ve adjusted your goals to a realistic level, let your partner or closest friends know.

They’ll help keep you on track and encourage you when you need it most. As they see you the most, informing your loved ones of your goals could also mean that they’ll be able to share with you if they’ve observed that you’ve made progress and remind you of your goals. And every bit of motivation helps!

 

4. Use An App

 

 

If your goal was to save money or lose weight, downloading apps or even setting a reminder on your phone’s calendar could help push you to achieve your goals.

Apps such as Spendee serve as an all-in-one expense tracking app where you can keep tabs on your spending easily.

 

5. Make Conscious Lifestyle Changes

 

 

We’re not saying you’ve got to do a complete overhaul of your lifestyle but, in order to meet your goals, you might just have to make conscious decisions every day.

For example, if you’re trying to exercise more and want to attend morning classes, you’ll have to skip a night of drinks or cut back on drinking to be able to meet weight loss goals.

 

6. Understand That There Will Be Difficulties

 

 

As with any sort of goal in life, you’ll often have to overcome obstacles in order to achieve them.

It’s easy to get caught up in thinking that you’ve failed if you’ve not achieved these goals so instead of blaming yourself, understand that there will be difficulties but you can overcome them with a bit more planning.

For example, if your goal was to read more books this year but you don’t always have the time, why not opt for audio books instead? That why you can listen to the stories while on your commute to work.

 

7. Make It Fun

 

 

Interjecting a little more fun into any activity can make the process easier. For example, if you’re trying to quit smoking, one fun thing you can do is to put $1 (or more, depending on what you’re comfortable with) into a jar for every day you don’t smoke.

At the end of seven days, you’d have obtained $7 and can use that money to spend on something like a cup of coffee or a delicious treat.

Or if you’re hoping to eat healthier, you could plan your own meals and think of various ways and recipes to pack delicious, pretty lunchboxes that will wow your colleagues.

 

8. Share Positive Milestones

 

 

One great way to motivate yourself into achieving your new year’s goals is to share all the positive breakthroughs with your friends, either on social media or through group chats.

Looking back on your milestone, you might just be motivated enough — both by your friends and the progress you’ve made — to push yourself ahead.

 

9. Reward Yourself

 

 

Along the way, be sure to reward yourself so you’re motivated to continue on your journey towards your goal.

For example, if you’re trying to lose weight and you’ve met your weight loss goal for the week, reward yourself with a great meal (without going overboard). While you should continue to eat a balanced and healthy diet for the rest of the week, the “cheat meal” makes the process more enjoyable.

 

10. Reflect

 

 

At the end of the year, whether you’ve reached your goals entirely or not, take a look back at the year you’ve had and see where you’ve gone right or wrong.

This will help you in the future if you’d like to continue in your goals and need an opportunity to see how best you can reach them.

But don’t beat yourself up either way. An accomplishment, no matter how small, is better than none at all.

ALSO READ: FRESH START: TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS STICK