A new year for many often means setting new goals and a fresh, clean slate — a chance to set things right and refocus efforts.

But it’s a proven fact that many forget those original intentions or maybe lose the drive and lack the discipline to follow through on making those goals a priority.

So how do the few successful people stick to their plans and ensure that their resolutions are resolved?

Having a plan.

Just like with any project or endeavor, having a plan and committing to it is key.

Without a plan, you’re already setting yourself up for failure.

I coach a 21-Day Sugar Detox group every few months and I cannot relay this message enough. Preparing and setting aside time prior to the start of the detox not only eases the anxiety that can come along with going into the detox, but gives those individuals who have planned accordingly the winning advantage.

Waking up the morning of Day 1 on the detox, opening the fridge and cupboards, and finding on-plan foods to eat simply will not cut it. Acting in the moment without a plan can be detrimental and thwart your efforts. It’s sort of like going grocery shopping starving without a shopping list. Or jumping in the car for a long road trip without navigation.

Consistency.

Being consistent in your efforts is another important component to achieving your goals.

Here are some consistent practices that I’ve heard about from others that seem to work well.

  • Reading: when it comes to reading more, making time for it and doing it at the same time each day (maybe first thing in the morning or right before bed)
  • Meditation: 10 minutes in the morning, before doing anything else

Writing on this blog regularly used to be more of a challenge for me until I cemented a plan.

I used to tell myself that I would write and publish a post whenever I had time. That method rarely works and if you do follow through what then lacks in the long term is consistency. A blog post published every 4-6 months is not as impactful as one published once a week, correct?

So, all I did to rectify this problem I was facing was to schedule it.

I set a goal and did not budge on that goal that every Monday I would publish a blog post no matter what was happening in my life and work. Since mid-August when establishing that goal, I have been successful in my efforts.

So what about exercise?

I know that’s a big one for many of you and rightly so.

Here’s what works for me.

You guessed it…setting a consistent plan.

So when it comes to hitting the gym, for me it does fluctuate a little bit but for this works…for me. It does and it doesn’t have some leniency. Let me break it down.

Non-negotiable: I must go to the gym at least 3 days every week and at most 4. I think 3-4 days for 1 hour at a time is reasonable and not too much to expect of myself.

I don’t set a consistent day plan when it comes to gym time because my schedule can fluctuate and I do like having that freedom. I am very good about using my weekend days to go as well which I know some may not be into. The key is finding what is going to work for you and tapping into that consistent rhythm.

No matter what days they happen to fall on, I am consistent with going to the gym 3-4 days every week. It just has to happen. There is no negotiating…that is unless I am traveling. Even then I will try to find some form of exercise to practice.

Healthy Eating

Even more important than the exercise component (in my opinion) is putting the right foods in your body.

Once again this is not rocket science. What sets those apart from seeing results with their desired health goals when it comes to eating is having a plan and being consistent with that plan. No surprise, right?

Let me break this down into chunks.

Example

Goals: to not eat out at restaurants so much and lose some weight

Plan: cook more at home, cut back on sugar

Consistency: every week — 1 big grocery shopping trip, 2 recipes to execute, no bringing sugar into the house; at minimum cook 5 dinners at home


So, you can see there is some wiggle room with still having a plan and being consistent. It’s not about being perfect…it’s more about the consistent efforts.

Doing the same thing and repeating it…a few times a week, a few times a month can amount to hours and weeks by year end.

Musicians do this all the time. How do they improve their playing? By practicing and practicing consistently. My drum teacher shared with me that he thinks 30 minutes of practice daily is probably better than an hour a few times a week.

Learning a language applies the same principles. When I perused through my local community college for French lessons, you can see that language classes are usually 3-4 times a week for 1 hour. Consistency once again is that crucial element that allows for practice and progress.

You can take multiple angles to this approach or rephrase it in different ways or words. I’ve written about goal setting before and also the word priority came up often. You could be consistent in your efforts or you could prioritize. I think both are equally important but the most important of them all is taking action.

As with any change that must take place, taking action and making that decision to try is already one step ahead of the contemplator who dwells on a thought for years saying “some day I would like to do this”.

So, do you set New Year’s resolutions or just goals in general?

And if you’ve had good results with sticking to them what works? And what doesn’t?


If A Plan and Consistency: How to Make Your Goals Stick was helpful, please share this post with a friend so that they too may learn something from reading it.


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