As 2012 draws to a close, we tend to reflect on the year and its ups and downs. News channels offer year-end reviews of top news stories, radio stations play countdowns of top hits of the year, and we as individuals reflect on particular moments throughout the year as well. For some of us, we have accomplished the goals we set out to achieve at the beginning of 2012, but for others, the end of the year will signify another year gone by that we were unable to reach these goals. While that can be disheartening, it can also be a tool for motivation for the new year. Read on for tips on focusing on the positives of the previous year and how to use this as motivation for reaching all your goals in 2013.
What was one of your top accomplishments in 2012?
It is easy to focus on the negative in ourselves, to be disappointed and to wish we could go back and change the choices we made throughout the year. Thinking this way, however, can actually have a negative impact on our chances at making those changes in the new year. Instead of focusing on the negatives, think of at least one positive thing you accomplished this past year. For me, it was finally doing a 5k. I didn’t train properly, and I even walked a big portion of it, but I did it. And the way I felt after completing it was a feeling I want to have again. So I will use that accomplishment to fuel my drive to stick with my plans and achieve even more of my goals for 2013.
What do you hope to accomplish in the upcoming year?
Once you have begun to focus on your accomplishments in the previous year, it will make facing your goals for 2013 easier. Instead of feeling as though you will never lose weight or get fit because you were unable to do it in the previous year, you will feel empowered and able to conquer your battles.
Make a plan.
Not only is it important to decide in advance what you hope to accomplish in the next year, but you will want to have a plan in place. Setting a vague goal, such as I will lose weight, can be a setup for failure. Stocking up on healthy foods in advance, and planning your exercise regimen, can help you actually achieve your goals.
Set small goals for throughout the year.
A big goal for a year away can seem overwhelming and can lead you to quit your plan soon after you start (it’s the reason so many new year’s resolutions only last a month or two – if that). Set a goal for each month so you can see your successes as you go, which will offer motivation to continue with your weight loss or other plan. It also gives you the opportunity to alter your plan and adjust to fit your needs. You can also set a reward for yourself at certain intervals – such as buying yourself a new pair of running shoes in two months, but only if you exercise at least three days a week between now and then.
By focusing on your successes from this past year, and setting small goals for 2013 with a plan in place in advance, you will be able to look back a year from now with pride.