I look forward to greeting the New Year and setting goals for myself.  I love goal setting (and reaching them is even better.) Here are my 5 best tips to keep your New Year’s Resolutions for 2018.

5. Don’t just think it, ink it. – Write your goal down.  It can be on a note card you tape to the bathroom mirror, tape to your dashboard in the car or in your wallet. You will be more likely to reach your goal with that visual reminder.

4. Set a realistic goal.– In 2012, I had 3 note cards full of goals.  One card for body, one for mind and one for spirit.  I reached a couple of the goals I had on my cards over the course of the year, but still felt like a failure when I looked at everything I didn’t accomplish.  If you reach your goal before the end of the year, wonderful!  Then, you can set more.  Pace yourself, so you don’t quit because you feel overwhelmed.

3.  Create goal mileposts. After I set my  goals to loose 100 lbs or complete my  first triathlon, I made sure that I had mileposts to check in along my journey to the goals I set.  With my weight loss, it was pound increments in addition to larger mile posts like shopping for new pants in a “regular” store or department not geared toward plus sized women.

2. Clear your personal roadblocks.  I don’t like to exercise.  I love how I feel when I’m done, but the process isn’t fun to me.  Knowing this, I have to trick myself into doing it.  I prepare my clothes the night before to create a smoother morning routine.  I have used a workout buddy that I know will be waiting for me to get out of the house.  My favorite trick, that I am using now, is to give myself gold stars.  I have Post-it stars that I mark the date and exercise I do, and stick them on the mirror.
It is a great way for me to see my progress over time.  Plus, I am rewarding myself with new workout music when I get reach 100 stars.


1. Be Persistent. – It can be challenging overcoming an addiction or forming a positive habit.  (I’ve acquired and given up many bad habits over the years.) If you’re at all like me, you will have days where you want to quit trying, and you may loose focus dealing with your day to day life challenges.  You might temporarily relapse into old patterns.   What separates the goal setters from the goal achievers is the doing.  If you need some motivation, I recommend this blog post.

Genealogy Jen’s Challenge of the Week – Set a goal.  I’ve love Mique’s  free printables at Thirtyhandmadedays, and have used them in the past. Or you can use a classic index card.  Bonus Points- Share your goal. More people can lead to greater goal accountability. (Unless your goal is  to run a marathon. I read a study that it actually makes it less likely to run one the more people you tell about your goal.)

What’s the biggest goal you’ve ever achieved? I’d love to be inspired. 

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