2021 is almost here and the resolutions have definitely started rolling in. I think we can all agree that this year has been crazy, so a new year, a new you, right? Well, not so fast. The problem with making grand resolutions is that they tend to be negatively focused or are so unattainable that you become frustrated and give up easily. Which is why today I wanted to talk about how to create goals you’ll actually stick with.

Instead of giving something up in 2021, why don’t we start something new? Why aren’t we making smarter goals that truly benefit our daily lives or our overall well being? Pressure is one answer. Culture could be another. No matter what it is that’s fueling your resolutions, there’s a better, more positive way to do it. 

 

Here’s how you can put a positive spin on the most common resolutions to make sure you stick to them in the new year. 

How to Create Goals in 2021

Negative Resolution: This year I’m going to lose weight

We see the ads on Instagram and we get the messages on Facebook – “the New Year is coming and I have just the thing to help you lose weight this year!” All too often, New Year’s resolutions are about the number on the scale or looking better than anyone you scroll past on social media. If you really think about it, shouldn’t you be aiming to be able to accomplish something that requires strength rather than fitting into a certain pair of jeans? 

 

Positive Solution: This year I’m going to feel my best

Here’s what I propose: chart out a new walking or jogging path with programs like Map My Walk that pushes your boundaries a little. Walk or run that path at least once a week. After one month, see how much your time has changed. I bet it will be faster. Once you can feel that difference, you can confidently push those boundaries even further and before you know it, you’re crushing fitness goals left and right. 

 

Negative Resolution: This year I’m going to read more self help books

It’s not that self-help books are bad, but just reading them isn’t going to do much for you. You can’t really track much progress other than the number of words on a page that you’ve read by making this a resolution. I’m all for bettering yourself in a positive way, but this resolution comes with a little bit of extra work on top that many tend to forget about. 

 

Positive Solution: This year I’m going to give myself daily positive affirmations

It might feel a little bit weird at first, but there are so many benefits to speaking positivity into existence. I came across an article from Popsugar in 2018 about this – I bookmarked it, but never got into it. The article talks about coming up with a daily affirmation or mantra to speak out loud either while meditating or to yourself while looking in a mirror. The theory behind this is that if you put that energy into the world, you’ll feel it flow back to you. If it worked way back then in 2018, it can’t hurt to try it now in 2021. 

Tip: choose a new word or phrase each week and write it down in a journal. By the end of the year you can look back on your journey and make an amazing collage of all your positive mantras. 

 

Negative Resolution: This year I’m going to eat healthier

Slow down there, tiger – this resolution is actually all over the place. What are you going to do to eat healthier? What is it about your current diet that isn’t working? Are you eating at the right times of the day? Are you not eating enough? Are you thinking of switching to a plant based diet? A vague resolution does not make a healthy promise. You’ll set yourself up for failure and frustration if you don’t focus on one thing at a time. 

 

Positive Solution: This year I’m going to drink more water every day

This is a good one. You should be drinking 8 8-oz glasses of water every day. Every. Single. Day. Falling short? You’re not alone. There are so many people that have trouble meeting this natural health and beauty boost that they literally make an app for it. This is an amazing goal to work up to that will only give you positive benefits. And you can track your water intake and get drinking reminders all from your iPhone.

 

Negative Resolution: I’m going to save an extra $1000 this year

It sounds nice, but much like the “eating healthier” resolution above, there is no concrete plan here. Why are you saving this money? How are you saving this money? There seems to be many more questions than answers. And putting a concrete number on it? So much pressure! Try the below resolution instead – it will help you accomplish two things at once. 

 

Positive Solution: I’m going to skip one coffee trip a week

I don’t believe in cutting yourself off from things that you love. But, if there’s one place you can easily save up, it’s by skipping one coffee trip a week. Just one, not all! The Starbucks drive thru is my best friend, especially during these times of social distancing, but if I can do it, so can you! You’ll see articles out there that talk about how much money you can save by making coffee at home instead of heading to Starbucks and it’s absolutely true – in fact, you’ll find me talking about kicking my Starbucks habit in this blog post. In reality, this isn’t about coffee at all. What this resolution is about, is finding an extra expense that really isn’t necessary and cutting back to refocus your budget. It could be coffee for you or extra trips to the nail salon for someone else. Find that one thing you really can live without and funnel that money into a separate savings account. After a few months, you’ll see the coin start to roll in and you won’t even miss that thing you gave up.

Do you have any extra tips on how to create goals?  Let me know in a comment below!