It seems like a few weeks ago that we were ringing in the new year, yet spring is just around the corner. You had big plans for your life, but you haven’t managed to get much done. Although you don’t want to doubt yourself, you can’t help but feel defeated. You don’t want to let another year pass you by without making progress, but finding the motivation and staying on task is more challenging than you imagined.
No matter what you’ve told yourself, you’re not out of the race just yet. Though there are only nine months left in 2021, there is still time to turn things around for the better. Below are some suggestions to consider.
Identify The Problem
If you’re going to accomplish your goals for 2021, you have to be transparent. The fact that you haven’t made much progress means that there’s something deeper that’s stopping you. Evaluate the past three months to identify obstacles, weaknesses, or distractions that could have prevented you from going forward with your plans.
Maybe you didn’t break your goals down into small actionable steps. Perhaps you endured a stressful or traumatic event that caused you to shift your priorities. There’s also the possibility that things like bad habits, negative thinking, toxic relationships, or limited resources created challenges.
Deal With the Issues
Once you’re aware of what the problem is, you must face it head-on. If you can eliminate or reduce the obstacles in your way, you have a better chance of reaching your goals. For example, let’s say you were finally going to pursue your dream of becoming a school counselor. However, the available programs were time-consuming, or the tuition was too high, so you put it off.
Although affordability and flexibility are essential factors to consider, there are ways around these issues. You could find school psychology programs online that allow you to get a degree and certification while working a full-time job and supporting a family. There’s also the option to look into financial aid, grant, and scholarship opportunities or take a second job to cover the expenses.
Ask For Help
While you’re on a personal journey to accomplish goals, but there’s nothing wrong with getting help along the way. There are people and resources available that can make things easier. Since there’s no need to suffer unnecessarily, why not get the help you need? Let’s use another example. Say you want to lose weight and improve your overall health, but avoiding unhealthy food options and sticking to an exercise routine is difficult. Instead of continuing to suffer in silence, you could hire a personal trainer or wellness coach to assist you. They can provide you with nutrition advice and meal plan ideas, create a workout routine conducive to your lifestyle, and encourage you to press forward when you feel like giving up.
One Day At A Time
It’s easy to get so anxious about reaching the goals that you put more pressure on yourself than necessary. You have to understand that things are going to happen. You’re trying new things, breaking old habits, and embarking on new territory. It takes time, patience, and practice to get where you want to be.
That’s why you have to learn to take things one day at a time. Awaken each day with a list of goals and do your best to accomplish them. At the end of the day, evaluate your progress and celebrate the little victories. The next day, get up with the same determination and check more tasks off your lists. As long as you keep trying and moving towards something, you’ll eventually achieve your goals.
Don’t allow issues or shortcomings from the past two months to keep you from moving forward with your goals for 2021. Believe it or not, there is still plenty of time to make significant progress. Get out of your head and use the steps above to evaluate the potential issues, develop a solution, and get assistance. Then, remember to stay consistent in doing your best to master things one day at a time. Before you know it, you’ll be well on your way to bringing your dreams to fruition.
