The beginning of the year is always an exciting time. New Year + New Goals = New Years Resolutions.
Yet, oddly, as ramped up as people are on January 1st, many abandon their goals by February 1st. When they make little or even no progress in the first month, they figure, "That's okay. I'll try again next year."
News flash: You don't need to wait until the New Year to reboot your goals. Every day, week, and month is the opportunity for a new start.
Here are 10 things you can do for your #FebruaryReset:
1. Read your goals from January 1st. Refresh your memory of what you set out to achieve.
2. Rewrite your goals for the year. What stopped you from getting started? Was there an impossible something on your list? Something you forgot to include? You can take items off that original list, and add new things. Just make sure you have a mix of easy wins and stretch goals to keep things interesting.
3. Set personal goals. Most people concentrate only on professional goals. Whenever you achieve a personal goal, you are more productive and happy, which enhances your professional life. The opposite is also true. Personal and professional goals elevate each other, so pay attention to both.
3. Post your goals in a place where you will see them every day. Out of sight is out of mind, so ... keep your eye on what you are working toward. It helps!
4. Clean up your workspace. File papers, shred envelopes. Make your work environment as user friendly and inviting as possible.
5. Clean out your closet. Or a room in your house ... or your garage. Clearing out actual clutter will help clear your mind.
6. Review your social media profiles. Make sure your picture is current and your experience, motto, and mission are up to date.
7. Do a digital cleanse. Go through your inbox and unsubscribe from email lists you never get a chance to read. Also, take the opportunity to remove unused programs and archive old files.
8. Introduce healthy habits. Find an exercise you enjoy, and schedule time to take part regularly. Find new healthy meal options. Cook more. Eat out less. And drink lots of water.
9. Schedule goal-time, me-time, and downtime. Treat the time you spend working toward your goals, treating yourself, and chilling out as sacred as the time you spend working for other people. Whether it's an hour every other day or an hour a week, it doesn't matter. Put these invaluable appointments in your electronic calendar ... and keep them!
10. Give yourself a break. You can't do everything all the time. Sometimes life gets in the way of pursuing your dreams... you can't punish yourself when you get off track. If you fall off the goal-wagon, just get up, dust yourself off, and start again.
Need more inspiration and motivation? Every day in February, I am posting a new #FebruaryRestart Goal on @TheDEBMethod social media.
Best of luck on your goal journey. To your success.
* * *
So, what is your best #FebruaryRestart tip? Please share your advice in the comments.
Debra Eckerling is the author of Your Goal Guide: A Roadmap for Setting, Planning and Achieving Your Goals. A writer, editor, and project catalyst, as well as founder of the D*E*B METHOD and Write On Online, Deb works with individuals and businesses to set goals and manage their projects through one-on-one coaching, workshops, and online support. She is also the author of Write On Blogging: 51 Tips to Create, Write & Promote Your Blog and Purple Pencil Adventures: Writing Prompts for Kids of All Ages, host of the #GoalChat Twitter Chat and #GoalChatLive on Facebook, and a speaker/moderator on the subjects of writing, networking, goal-setting, and social media.
So, what is your best #FebruaryRestart tip? Please share your advice in the comments.
