March is just around the corner, and we have one question for you: bes, anyare sa New Year’s resolution mo?
At this point, you’re probably laughing nervously because you forgot all about it as soon as February rolled in. Don’t worry about it, because according to a study by the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, USA, 42.4 % “never succeed and fail on their resolution each year.” Of course, it’s a statistic based on Americans, but you get the idea how hard sticking to a resolution is.
Even if it’s considered normal not to achieve a goal made while drunk during New Year’s Eve, it would be nice to tick off something we’ve been meaning to do for years. It’s hard, but we came up with five simple steps to make sure you’re on track to achieve your resolutions:
5. It’s okay to fail
Most people tend to give up at the first sign of a roadblock or a failure. The thing to remember is to never give up! If your goal is to control your sugar intake and you eat a slice of cake at a birthday party, don’t think your life is over. Try again tomorrow. My goal is to lose weight by controlling my food intake and doing cardio, and it is overwhelming when I think about how many times I have to jog to see considerable results. Instead, I take it day by day. And if I don’t make it on one day, I don’t beat myself up over it. I tell myself, “tomorrow is another day.” Remember, it’s a process that takes time.
4. Make sure you’re equipped
It’s hard to succeed if you don’t have the right tools for the job. How can you meet your goal of producing a painting this year if you don’t buy the materials? Don’t be afraid to spend money, especially if it will help you meet your goal. Sign up for a gym membership if you want to lose weight, or enroll in a baking class if you want to open your own pastry shop. Join seminars and buy relevant books, because they will help you succeed. It will pay off in the long run.
3. Keep it real: be SMART
Many of us don’t succeed with our New Year’s resolutions because they’re so unrealistic. “I want to have a beach body this summer!” (which is a few weeks away), or “I want to read 100 books this year!” Let’s keep it real, guys. Unless you’re going to live in a gym or quit your job, achieving these goals is going to be next to impossible. But if you’re determined to succeed, by all means, go for it. To do this, keep it SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.
Let’s go for the beach body goal. What exactly do you want to achieve? What do you mean by beach body? To make it measurable, identify how much weight you want to gain or lose. Also, you have to figure out if it’s something you can attain in the time period you set yourself, and if it’s realistic. Following the SMART method makes it easier to achieve your goals because it tells you if you’re on track, and it helps you identify what else needs to be done.
2. Don’t find time. Make time
Most of the time, we don’t do what we set out to do because “we don’t have the time.” It’s understandable. When you have a job, it’s hard to pursue your passion projects or your resolutions. But the trick is to change your mindset: instead of finding time, you have to make time. Yes, you will have to make some sacrifices along the way, but you have to get your priorities straight. Do you want to learn Japanese or do you want to spend the night in bed watching Netflix?
Because I have a full-time job, it’s hard for me to squeeze in a fitness routine. I also have meetings all over Metro Manila, so I can’t find the time to go to a gym. Luckily, Anytime Fitness is open 24 hours, and there are branches in key locations like Alabang, Bonifacio High Street, Burgos Circle, Bacoor, Eastwood, Cubao, Escario in Cebu City, Cebu Business Park, and Davao. A branch in TriNoma is opening soon.
1. Remind yourself why you’re doing it
Yes, some of us may have made our resolution one drunken New Year’s Eve party, but there has to be a reason why you chose that, right? When your goal is becoming a distant memory, recall why you even set that in the beginning. Did you want to lose weight so you can climb a mountain? Did you want to learn Japanese to prepare for a trip to Tokyo? Or did you want to learn to bake to earn extra income? Remembering why you set that as your goal and reminding yourself every day will help you achieve it in the long run.
What tips did we miss? Share it below!
Follow When in Manila Koji for more stories like this!
