Most people start pursuing their goals — especially New Year's resolutions — with great passion. But over time, they lose momentum, burn out and put their dreams aside. If this happens to you, it's a clear-cut sign that your goals are not sustainable. In this article, you'll discover how to get back on track toward your goals — and accelerate your momentum.
1. Declare your intentions. When you're clear about which goals to work on, you can increase your commitment by publicly declaring your intentions. Share your goals with the people in your life — the more, the better. You'll be more likely to take action toward achieving your goals when the alternative is losing face with your loved ones.
If the threat of public humiliation isn't enough, you can also incorporate a negative consequence. Find something that will be painful for you to do, and publicly commit to enduring the consequence if you don't achieve your goal.
Some people are more motivated by rewards than punishments. If this describes you, find a reward that you'll receive upon completion of your goal. This could be anything from a vacation or new car to something simpler, such as treating yourself to a new outfit, handbag or massage. Rewards are a powerful way to motivate your inner child.
2. Create accountability. Most of us find it easy to let ourselves off the hook. We can quickly justify why we haven't followed through on our commitment to take action on a particular day, just as we can easily make excuses about why we missed our targets completely.
