How to Follow Up on Goals and Resolutions 

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People make resolutions all of the time, especially around the first of the year. However, it is common to abandon these resolutions quickly and this is because most people make the resolution without really making a plan to carry it out. When you make a resolution, it is important to create all of the follow-up steps as part of the process. This is something you can do quickly, so do not let it deter you from making goals and resolutions that are going to help to improve various parts of your life.

Take Note of the Main Points

The first thing you want to do is take a couple of minutes to write down the resolution and a few of the main points when you are making it. At this specific time, you do not have to worry about the small details because this will come later. For example, if your goal is to go back to college, jot down a couple ideas for what you would like to major in, a few school ideas and a few ideas for how you will finance your education. This gives you a strong starting point and gives you a little information to keep you motivated for the rest of the process.

Take the Time to Plan Out the Details

Now is the time to hash out the details so that you have a pure plan to use to follow up on your resolutions. This can take a little time and it is important that you do not rush through it. Using the education example again, this is where you will plan out exactly when to apply to each school and the major you wish to pursue at each school. You want to create a plan that has a start and a finish so that you can be sure that your timeline is reasonable before you get started with pursuing this resolution.

Create an Exact Starting Date for Your Resolution

When you make a resolution, you want to give yourself an exact start date. This allows you to start preparing for it in advance so that you are more likely to get the resolution off the ground and go through with it. Preparing in advance significantly increases the chances of not only getting started, but also being successful. For example, if your resolution is to quit smoking, you want to set a quit date at least two weeks from the day you are making the resolution. This allows you to plan out exactly how you will quit and it gives you ample time for preparation.

Work Toward Your Resolution on a Daily Basis

Regardless of the resolution that you make, it is important that you are constantly keeping it as a primary focus. You made the resolution because it is important, so you must allow it to be an important factor in your daily life. This can mean just spending a couple of minutes each day or a few hours, depending on what your resolution is. When you are creating the more detailed plans, you will work out exactly how much time each day you need to dedicate to your resolution to allow you to have adequate time to follow through and follow up thoroughly.

Take a Few Minutes Each Week to Evaluate Your Progress

Pick one day each week where you will check on your progress to ensure that you are working toward your goals or resolutions. This process only takes a couple of minutes, so you can choose any time during the week to take care of this. To evaluate, simply reflect on your resolution and make sure that you are following the plan that you have put into place. If you see that you are falling behind, take a few minutes to readjust so that you are able to get back on track to achieve your goal or resolution within the timeframe.

The next time you make a resolution or a goal, take a couple of minutes to brainstorm your plan to ensure that you follow through. This is quick and simple and does not have to include a complicated process. You just want to jot down a few ideas that help you to break things down and make your resolution something that will be easy to accomplish and complete. For example, if your resolution is to lose weight, just write down a few simple changes you will use to complete this resolution successfully.

- Rosemary Kitchen


Resources

http://www.forbes.com/sites/samanthasmith/2013/12/30/a-guide-to-evaluate-your-priorities-set-goals/