Achieving Your Yearly Targets? Begin by Establishing Precise Objectives.

In this guest post, Amie Gibbons, a lawyer, writer, and science enthusiast, shares her insights on how to stick to your New Year's resolutions, particularly focusing on weight loss and personal development.

Losing weight can be a challenging journey, often requiring lifestyle changes such as diet modifications. However, setting definite goals can help make this journey more manageable. Instead of aiming for large, abstract targets like losing 40 pounds in a year, consider breaking it down into smaller, achievable goals. For instance, commit to walking 10 minutes every day, doing 10 push-ups, and a set of 20 crunches every day, and limiting soda intake to one can a day.

When it comes to learning a new skill, such as cooking or writing a novel, it's essential to start small and build up. Instead of promising to learn to cook or finish a novel this year, set realistic, monthly goals. For example, aim to do a new recipe a week for the first three months, then gradually increase the frequency. Similarly, for writing a novel, consider setting a goal of writing 1,000 words a day, then editing for an hour a day for three months, before reassessing and increasing the goals.

Knowing why you're setting weight loss goals is crucial, as it can help maintain motivation. Understanding the reasons behind your resolutions can serve as a powerful reminder when faced with obstacles.

Rewarding yourself for meeting fitness goals can also help maintain motivation. A soak in the tub, a night out, or an extra treat can serve as rewards for meeting your goals, but be mindful of their potential impact on your weight loss efforts. Setting one fitness goal for a month and seeing the results can be a good starting point.

Lastly, rewarding yourself when you hit a milestone is a powerful tool for staying motivated. Whether it's treating yourself to a new book, a movie night, or a relaxing spa day, celebrating your achievements can help keep you on track.

This article is a guest post courtesy of Amie Gibbons, a writer, lawyer, and science geek who blogs about writing, legal tidbits, and fiction pieces.