7 Tips to Finish what you start

It’s that time of year we are all thinking of our New Year’s Resolutions or goals for the upcoming year! We resolve “all the things” that we want to improve on.  It’s a new year, a new opportunity to be the best you.

Unfortunately, according to StatisticBrain, in 2015, about 8% of people who made a New Year’s Resolution succeeded.  I used to be against New Year’s Resolution until I thought about it another way.

New Year’s Resolutions are not bad.

Ordinarily, people wish, want, and hope to be the best versions of themselves.  New Year’s is the one time a year that we are united in our thinking that we need to change for the better in our lives. The idea of a New Year is an excellent opportunity to reflect on the one, two, or maybe three things you want to improve in your life.

Take action towards your New Year’s Resolutions.

Some people take it further than New Year’s Eve resolve and attempt to make a change for about two to three weeks. Until the need or want to change no longer becomes a priority. Familiar and comfortable habits creep back into your life. And the passion fades. Then we are back to business as usual.

Make your New Year’s Resolution a solution, not an unattainable goal

Why? How? Why did that passion go away so quickly? How do you keep that motivation going? There are lots of tips.  I am sure within the next week everyone will have an opinion. I know I can only speak from my experience, what proved to work and make a solution, and now a lifestyle that I plan to maintain forever.

Seven ways to Finish what you start

7. Do the research.

Find out what you need to get to where you’re going.  If you plan on publishing a book, what steps do you need to take? If you are planning on losing weight, how much? How? Why?

Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way. Proverbs 19:2

New Year's resolution

6. Prepare Yourself. 

Don’t just wake up on January 1st, throw away everything in your house, and go to the gym running on the elliptical like a cheetah (for about 3 minutes), lifting a 5 lbs dumbbell two or three times, and wiping the sweat from your brow talking about, Phew! I did it! Get a plan, a good plan, a plan made just for you, your likes, and goals, and then get ready to execute that plan. Buy the food on the menu, prep the meals, schedule time in your week to do the workouts!

Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail.”

5. Find a buddy or group.

Don’t just find any buddy; find someone who will call you out lovingly if you’re not doing what you should and someone to be your loudest biggest cheerleader just when you need that extra push. Accountability buddies are essential to help navigate the ups and downs of weight loss. You can join us at Bible and Bootcamps for 7-week basic training for healthy lifestyle habits. It includes daily prayer, meditation, encouragement and accountability, six weeks of exercise, healthy eating guidelines, and meal ideas. We have a fantastic group of women growing and supporting each other through our faith and fitness journey.

New Year's Resolution accountability buddy

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

4. Execute with Energy.

If you’re going to do something, do it well. Do it to the best of your abilities! Just think you’re only going to be uncomfortable for a maximum of 1 hour out of your day.  That is going to add years to your life.  The cost is less than the benefit, and you’re so worth it.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24

3. Track your progress. 

According to the American Psychological Association findings, “Frequently monitoring progress toward goals increases the chance of success. There are various ways that you can track your results. You can use a fitness tracker; pictures, food logs,  and measurement logs are examples of easy ways to track your progress.  I’m not too fond of the numbers games of scales and measurements, and although I do track my measurements, I prefer pictures.  Everyone is different, but you’ll find what works best for you.

2. Craft the best; why!

Other than prayer. An excellent “Why?” will get you up and out of bed on a cold rainy day and into the gym. Check out my post on: Weight Loss. Why   A magnificent “Why?” will give you the self-discipline to say “No, thank you” to that one indulgence. It’s going to get you over the hurdle and sustain you through the plateaus.  You MUST, no exception, has a “why?” to make your resolution stick!

1. Pray and Give it to God.

When we do things with Christ, it makes it so much easier, attainable, and within our reach, because He can place all our wants in the palm of our hands—giving your goals to Christ to lead your steps and follow your directions. While you’re doing the research, while you’re preparing yourself, when you have to decide to use that plan b and execute and get the plan done will help you achieve your goals and the ones that He has for you.  This may be the missing piece that hindered you from achieving that resolution but not this year.  You’re doing things a little differently.

“On days we’re not motivated to exercise, perhaps we need to go to Jesus. We can lay our very real struggle into His very capable hands and watch Him work in us for His glory.”-Matthew Pryor

New Year's Resolution

When you consistently fill yourself with the Bread of life instead of being content with the “food that spoils,” you will never go hungry physically and spiritually. “Do not reserve the Bread of Life just for Sundays. Make it a daily mindset” to achieve your goals with His strength.

 

How do you plan to stick to your resolutions? Have you ever considered intentionally praying for direction and help to achieve your desires?

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