January 1st of 2024 coincidentally falls on a Monday, which means new day, new week, new month, new year, new everything; the ultimate reset! It also means that there are millions of people around the world ready to get a start on their new years goals. For some folks it might be wanting to quit smoking, or wanting to lose weight. For some it may be to stay more focused and consistent with exercise or learning how to cook and being more proactive in the kitchen.

Whatever the goal, staying motivated and inspired is key in order to achieve success. However, for a lot of people, that’s easier said than done. Most people will be so determined and focused for the first month, but sadly lose touch and sight of those goals and slowly wean themselves away, inevitably not attaining or achieving what they initially set their hearts out for.

This is all too very common. I think it’s because most people are looking for quick results. We live in such a fast paced world where everything is on the go and so many products are designed for our convenience, that it has subconsciously affected our way of thinking …  “Why hasn’t this happened yet?” “How come I’m not seeing any changes?”  “How long will this take?”  “I need to see results quick!” 

With this sort of negative mindset (and I too am guilty of this), we can easily get annoyed, frustrated and discouraged and ultimately give up. 

So how do we stay motivated to keep moving forward? What can we do to remain inspired?

I’ve complied a list of things that you can refer to when you need that friendly reminder. I hope that you will find this list useful.

Set realistic goals: when you set achievable goals, you increase your chances of success. Setting realistic goals maximizes your time and resources, keeping you motivated.

Create a vision board: a vision board is a visual representation of your goals. Creating one makes your goals clear, provides motivation and focus, enhances productivity and increases your chances of success.

Listen to motivational tapes: listening to motivational tapes can help you stay focused and on track. It’ll serve as a reminder as to why you started in the first place, and to keep moving forward! 

Celebrate the big and small victories: celebrating your wins helps to track all of your achievements, whether big or small. Small achievements helps to work towards larger goals.

Have a support system: surround yourself with people who will be a positive light, hold you accountable and help keep you on track.

Don’t compare yourself to others: everyone’s journey and progress will look different from yours. It’s best to stay focused on yourself and your needs. Remember, it’s YOU vs YOU. Comparing yourself to others will only be a distraction.

Acknowledge your progress: attaining goals and keeping them isn’t easy. It requires time, patience, consistency and a certain mentality. When you make progress, acknowledge it! It will help keep you inspired to continue.

Take it one day at a time: there is no rush or time limit to achieve success. Rather than jumping the gun or having high expectations, just take each day as it comes. Approaching your goals this way can increase your chances of success. 

Give yourself credit: stepping out of your comfort zone and taking the steps necessary to make big changes in your life can be daunting and intimidating. Give yourself credit for accepting the changes that you need to make and taking the steps to do so. 

Be kind to yourself: during your journey you will most likely face bad days and difficult challenges. The key is to remind yourself why you started and to tackle those moments head on as best as you can. If you feel defeated, don’t beat yourself up. Tell yourself that these moments are not a reflection of who you are, that they will only make you a stronger person. Love yourself throughout the process, you are worthy!

Having goals and setting out to achieve them is a wonderful thing. It helps us to grow as an individual and even teaches us a thing or two about ourselves. We learn to quickly recognize our strengths and weaknesses and helps to build character. Setting goals also helps to maintain positive behaviours and promotes a sense of self mastery.

If you are currently working towards a dream or goal, I wish you well on your journey. No dream or goal is too big. If you can imagine it, then you can achieve it. 

“A dream becomes a goal when action is taken toward its achievement.”

 - Bo Bennett