new year, new you: 5 ways to keep that new year motivation

A few weeks into the new year and I often find myself and those around me in a sort of uninspired slump, struggling to stick to the resolutions and aspirations desperately proclaimed as the clock struck midnight a few weeks ago. It can be tricky to push through the first month of change, to shift your mindset and feel inspired to keep going. With February nearing, the once riveting idea of change can seem tiring and a waste of time. So how do we keep the spark alive? Avoid the post new year slump and encompass the infamous slogan ‘new year, new me’?

1.    Make sure your goals are achievable and you have a strong action plan in place. 

Whilst making a long list of new year goals and things you want to achieve can be the best way to inspire yourself, it isn’t necessarily the best in the long run, especially if your goals are far-fetched. Whilst it’s important to include goals that may scare you a bit or push yourself, also consider reality and what is possible to achieve within a certain time period.

One of the bests ways to help you stick to your goals is to ensure you have a proper action plan in place. It’s easy to state you want to achieve something, but what’s important is that you work backwards from that big goal with steps on how to achieve it. It’s also important to be specific about your goals. For example, instead of saying “this year I want to focus on my fitness and health”, set goals such as “I want to compete in two fitness events this year “(e.g. fun run, cross fit competition etc.). From this, you can then set smaller goals such as go for a run three times a week, join a running club etc. By breaking apart your big goal into smaller and more manageable daily tasks, it makes the end seem easier to tackle, and less overwhelming. Plus, you can schedule these daily tasks into things such as your planner or phone reminders, to ensure you actually complete them. 

Especially when it comes to goals, it’s important to use whatever method works for you. Whether that be writing them out physically, making a visual mood board, or using an app on your phone- utilise your resources and use a method which you enjoy and know will work for you. For example, as someone who believes in the law of attraction and manifesting, as well as being a very physical and visual person, I write out my goals and place them in the middle of a vision board in my bedroom. That way each day I can be reminded of what I want to achieve and what I need to do. 

2.    Set time aside for yourself 

One of the biggest things I learnt last year was the importance of self-care. Whilst it’s really important to stay productive and motivated, it’s also important that you don’t burn out. Try not to overbook yourself or take on more than you can handle as this can quickly lead to you becoming overwhelmed, too tired or in some cases sick. An easy way to ensure you do get rest time is to allocate a day or few hours in the week into your schedule. However, whilst sometimes it is nice to do nothing and put on a movie, this habit can often become more destructive rather than helpful. For example, one hour watching a show can often turn into a whole day of binge-watching. Instead, try to spend free time doing things that you enjoy, ideally without the involvement of technology. Whether this be reading, drawing, listening to music, dancing, playing an instrument etc. It’s really good to stimulate your mind in a different way, teaching yourself something new or trying something you’ve always wanted to. 

3.    Read more 

Although not everyone’s cup of tea, reading has been proven to have huge benefits in a variety of aspects. Whilst in some cases, it can be a source of knowledge improvement, it also helps to reduce stress, and improve memory, focus and concentration. I find that often after you leave school, books tend to become a distant memory. But the reality is, that just because you aren’t being forced to read, doesn’t mean you should stop. There’s a huge range of content and genres, so whether you want to read something fictional, or learn more about an area you are interested, there is an option for all. The simple act of reading, listening to a podcast, or even watching a documentary fuels this idea of self-driven education, which not only makes you more proactive and knowledgeable, but can improve your mental health drastically.

4.    Implement accountability 

Sometimes even the perfect action plan can still not make us motivated or driven enough to do what we need to do to achieve our goals. Procrastination can often be our biggest enemy. Accountability buddies (described by Forbes as “people who help one another stay motivated and on track”) can be a huge lifesaver in terms of sticking to your new year goals. An accountability buddy can be used in all areas of life, especially the gym, however it is important that you aren’t too dependent or lenient on each other. For example, just because your accountability buddy can’t workout one day, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t as well. A more casual way to implement accountability is to just start a conversation with people about your goals. Telling someone else or people you are close to about what you want to achieve is perfect because they will often subconsciously keep you accountable- ask you routinely how you are going, or just check in with you. Whether it be a friend or family member, vocalising your goals to someone else reduces the chance of you giving up or quitting. 

5.    Start journaling 

Over the past few years, I’ve definitely noticed a lack of people being able to simply understand or verbalise how they feel, or what they want. It’s something that many people probably don’t realise that they struggle with, simply because they don’t know any different. And it’s not a bad thing, it’s just a factor of not actually taking the time try to understand, or think about your emotions. Journaling is something that I have been doing for a few years now and although I am someone who is very into their writing, it’s also extremely beneficial for your mental and emotional health. To me, journaling is pretty much whatever you want. There are so many different forms or way of doing it that there is really no right or wrong. Simply just use a notebook in any way you feel- whether it be visual or words, big paragraphs or single statements, a daily recount of your day or just a random thought, it’s simply just a method to express and understand your emotions. 

Those are all the tips and recommendations I can muster for now. Although a few might be a bit obvious or basic, I can assure you that if properly implemented, they will help you stick to your goals, and achieve that ‘new year new you’ feeling. The most important thing is to just make sure you live a life you enjoy and love, surround yourself with those who make you feel better and do things which make you happier. 

Until next time, 

O