There’s something magical about the beginning of a new year. It makes you feel different and fresh - like you can achieve anything! You promise yourself to read more books, go to the gym and finally start that side hustle you’ve been dreaming about. The excitement of what you’re capable of is palpable!
However, whilst we start the year with the best of intentions, by the time March rolls around we’re already back to our old habits, and that feeling of motivation has worn thin. So what is the secret to accomplishing those goals you so adamantly promised yourself you’d achieve?
From our research, it comes down to 5 easy to implement principles that will help you keep motivation high all year round!
Be Clear
The trap many people fall into when setting goals is being too broad. When you set a well-intentioned but undefined goal such as ‘become fitter’ or ‘travel more’ you’re actually setting yourself up for failure.
The mind loves to make excuses, so the more specific your goals are the less likely you’ll be able to convince yourself to give up.
Instead of ‘become fitter’ set a goal like ‘run 10km confidently by XYZ’. That way you’ll have something more tangible to work towards. Definitive goals are the key to success!
Manifest
The basic principle of manifesting (also known as the law of attraction) is ‘thoughts become things’ or ‘like attracts like’.
If you’re constantly feeling like you don’t have enough hours in the day to reach your goals, it’s said that this will continue to ‘manifest’ in your life. Or in a more simplified way, positive emotions attract more positivity whilst feelings that are negative will attract more negativity.
The main ideas behind this ancient technique are to:
- Practice gratitude for what you already have (this will increase positivity).
- Picture in your mind what you wish to achieve daily as if you have already achieved it (e.g. I have accomplished *your goal here* and it looks like XYZ)
It sounds a little woo-woo, but the practice of manifesting has been proven (along with taking physical steps to achieve your goals) to be incredibly effective in not only maintaining motivation but also achieving results.
Rest As Much As You Work (Or More)
Society's pressure to do more at an ever-increasing pace, commonly referred to as ‘hustle culture’, is becoming a dangerous expectation among many workplaces.
While ‘hustle culture’ may sound productive, it actually leads to higher stress levels, more frequent burnouts and mental health issues. The notion that we must be ‘working’ 24/7 in order to be successful is an easy trap to fall into, but it certainly is not the answer!
Studies show that employees who skip lunch and don’t take breaks throughout the day are more prone to sickness, decision fatigue and lack of creativity.
On the other hand, employees who took adequate breaks were far more successful. As the saying goes ‘work smarter, not harder’.
Have Fun
All work and no play is a guaranteed way to have you giving up on your goals quicker than you can say resolution! So let your hair down! You’ll be far happier, more productive and less likely to give up when you’ve got something to look forward to!
Of course, it is possible to have too much of a good thing, so make sure you keep it balanced. And remember, having fun (e.g socialising with friends) is different to rest! Unless you’re watching Netflix, which by nature is both a good time and restful. Look at you multi-tasking, you’re achieving more already!
Get Your 8 Hours
We know it’s a cliche, but it’s true! Similar to taking breaks and making time for rest, getting your 8 hours of sleep a night in a comfortable mattress is crucial for showing up as your best self every day.
Good quality sleep every night means more energy in the day to accomplish everything you set out to do. Check out our blog on ‘4 Tips For The Best Of Your Life’ and you’ll be more productive than a Steve Jobs x Michelle Obama hybrid.
