Keeping Your New Year’s Resolutions with Project Management Techniques
It’s mid-February already? How did this happen!? For many, by this time in the new year, New Year’s Resolutions have already lost most of their steam. Now (and often!) is a good time to review your goals for the new year, track progress and refresh your sense of ambition. New Year’s Resolutions are often hard to keep, but it wouldn’t be as sweet of a victory if you didn’t have to work hard to get there!
Just like successful project management, achieving your goals requires organization, realistic expectations and a positive attitude. Here are a few tips on how to keep your New Year’s Resolutions going all year long:
Be realistic. While being ambitious can be a good thing, setting the bar too high is a resolution killer. For example, instead of eliminating your favorite not-so-healthy food altogether, resolve to eat it less often. Have a realistic view of yourself and your abilities and go from there. If you strive for a goal that is truly attainable, it will be!
Make an announcement. Telling supportive friends and family members about your resolutions will make it official. Not only this, but friends and family can help you stay on track. You can even find someone you know who shares your New Year’s resolution and work to motivate each other.
Make a Plan. Instead of saying you’d like to lose a certain amount of weight by the end of the year, make smaller monthly goals. Decide how you will deal with those days when you just don’t want to go to the gym. Take one step at a time and think of ways to stay encouraged, such as having a set list of reminders of why you have this resolution in place.
Track your progress. Even small successes towards your goal should be accounted for. Make short term goals and keep track of them using an online project management tool, or even a diary. Staying on track and seeing your progress will keep you motivated.
Don’t be so hard on yourself. Keeping up with resolutions is challenging, and there will be the occasional slip. Make an effort not to dwell on mistakes and don’t criticize yourself too much over them. Even if you do fall off the wagon, it’s never too late to start achieving your goals.
It takes commitment to turn a new year’s resolution into a habit. Keep with it, and eventually your resolutions will become positive life changes that are just another part of your wonderful personality!
Tags: new years resolutions, online project management tool, project management