2011 is upon us and we have one month under our belts.  With the start of a New Year, I listed a few goals and opportunities to improve for 2011.  Yeah for me for a few months; yet, I often times find myself mid-year not staying as motivated as I am now.  Why? It is not about the goals and my great intentions. It's about staying motivated to achieve what I so intently want to achieve - I set the goals, no one else set them for me.

In December, I wrote about reflecting on 2010 and refocusing for 2011. I took some time to reflect on 2010 in each of the six "F" toward overall well being:

Faith, Family, Feelings, Finances, Fitness, Friends

For 2011, I've put together a few annual goals in each of these areas such as spending more time with my family and friends, staying healthy with more raw foods in my diet, exercising, and saving more money by sticking to a budget. I have them written down in a binder and have placed items on my calendar to create a routine activity.  These goals created in January are set with great intention; however, I realize my motivation fizzles out as I near the middle of the year.  To keep the intensity throughout the year, my first thought is to break my annual goals down to monthly mini-goals allowing me to stay on track and make adjustments if needed before the year is gone.  By intently scheduling time each month and tracking my process I will be able to celebrate smaller accomplishments more frequently in hopes to accomplish the overall annual goals set. 

In addition to the monthly goals, I realize that it's not about setting the goals or tracking them - it's about my motivation to stick to my intentions. Heidi Grand Halvorson, PhD, helps us understand how to stick to a plan once we've made it. Her article, "5 Easy Steps for Spending Less" is focused on staying motivated and she suggests five effective strategies we can use for spending less in her article published on Psychology Today.  To view her 5 Steps, Click here. 

Wishing you all the motivation to stick to your resolutions and goals by being specific, setting concrete actions, and rewarding yourself for good behavior.

Terri

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