New Year’s resolution, now what?

Have your New Year’s resolutions from last year gone unresolved?  You’re not alone. Now, the New Year offers another opportunity to achieve your goals and these tips may just help you achieve them.

Make it something you really want.

Don’t make it a resolution that you are unsure of.  It must be meaningful and you must be committed.

Limit your resolutions to a number you can handle.

Two or three resolutions are usually a good number and ones you can most likely keep.  Focus your efforts on the goals you truly want.

Be specific.

For instance, rather than say “I’m working out say “I’m working out Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5:30 p.m.”

Automate.

Automating financial goals can maximize your odds for success.  If your goal is to save $2,000 this year, calculate the amount out of each check and deduct this amount from your checkbook.  Or arrange to have it automatically deposited into your savings account each time you get paid.

Have a plan.

Create a series of small steps to reach your goal.

Be ready to change some bad habits.

Bad habits can sabotage goals and prevent you from reaching them.

Write down your goals and visualize them regularly.

Writing and visualizing are effective tools for fulfilling a goal because they fix them firmly in the subconscious mind.  Keep them in a prominent place where you can view them frequently,

Be accountable.

Having someone hold you accountable can be a powerful tool. Commitment adds to the motivation.  Have one or two people that can act as coaches or cheerleaders that can push you along.

Forgive yourself.

If you fall off the wagon, jump back on. Don’t give up, slips will happen.

Reward yourself. 

Set milestones and reward yourself along the way.

Resolutions are easy to make and often hard to keep.  Just remember, if at first, you don’t succeed, try, try again…

By Jack Stieber –  President – American Receivable