Stephanie Linus Daily

Tag: New Year Resolution

  • 5 Tips To Help You Achieve Your Reading Goals This Year

    At the start of the year, I asked a few people what their New Year Resolutions were and reading more books was at the top of their list. Apparently, the desire to read more and read more frequently is something ingrained in many of us goal-setters.

    Here are a few key tips to working towards increasing how much you read in 2017.

    1. Set A Goal: Don’t just say you’re going to read more, set a specific goal for how much you want to read. For example, if you read 5 books last year, increasing to 8-10 would be a good goal.

    2. Get A Reading List: Determine ahead of time exactly what books you plan to read. You can add or subtract from the list as time goes by but it helps to have a list of what you want to achieve.

    3. Have A Reading Schedule: Create a schedule for reading the books you think are most important. Be specific about what you want to read and when, setting deadlines for finishing each book or even each chapter. These deadlines will help you stay accountable to your schedule.

    4. Join Reading Challenges: I’ve seen a couple of them online like the 52 Books Challenge, in which you read one book a week (give or take) for the year. This comes with the bonus community of r/52book, where fellow readers can cheer each other on.

    5. Carry Your Book(s) Everywhere: There’s always an opportunity to read. Maybe in the car or before a business meeting. Whenever you have a moment, you can bring out your book and read. This is also very possible if you like to read digital versions. I still prefer hard copy. 

    What other methods can you employ to help achieve your reading goals this year? 

  • Making Your New Year’s Resolution Stick

    Hi SL Fabz,

    It’s already one week into the new year!

    How have you been faring with your goals and new year resolutions? Great I hope.

    It is important to remember that the New Year isn’t meant to serve as a catalyst for sweeping character changes. It is a time for people to reflect on their past year’s behavior and promise to make positive lifestyle changes.

    This year, stop the cycle of resolving to make change and then not following through.

    Yes, I’ve been there before. I’ve resolved to do things at the beginning of the year and ended up forgetting about it some weeks later. However, here are some tried and tested ways I’ve used to make my new year resolutions stick.

    1. Start Small
    Make resolutions that you think you can keep. If, for example, your aim is to exercise more frequently, schedule three or four days a week at the gym instead of seven. If you would like to eat healthier, try replacing dessert with something else you enjoy, like fruit or yogurt, instead of seeing your diet as a form of punishment.

    2. Talk About It
    Don’t keep your resolution a secret. Tell friends and family members who will be there to support your resolve to change yourself for the better or improve your health. The best-case scenario is to find a buddy who shares your New Year’s resolution and motivate each other.

    3. Track Your Progress
    Keep track of each small success. Short-term goals are easier to keep, and each small accomplishment will help keep you motivated. Instead of focusing on losing so much weight at a time, focus on losing it bit by bit. Keep a journal to help you stay on track, regardless of what your goal is.

    4. Ask For It
    Want more money? Ask for the raise. Want a different job title? Tell your boss. People are too busy and too focused on themselves to think of your goals and your needs. So rather than waiting for someone to shine the light on you, do it for them. The old adage, “ask and you shall receive” works most of the time.

    5. Make It visual, Get Creative
    Write down your goal on paper or, even better, make a “resolution binder” where you put down your ideas. Elaborate the end result with paper cuttings, drawings and write-ups. Jot down your favourite motivational quotes along with your personal reasons for doing this. Make it graphic and compelling enough. Make sure to paint a very clear picture of what it would be like to have what you’re working towards.

    Robin Sharma has a formula for this:

    Focus + Time = Mastery.

    “What you concentrate on, you cannot help but get great at. The more you focus, the better you get,” he says.

    So, SL Fabz, what is your ultimate goal for this year?

  • It’s Time To Make A Fresh Start! 3 Tips to Achieving Your Goals This Year

    new-years-resolutions

    Happy 2014!

    With every New Year comes New Year’s resolutions…whether it’s losing some weight, starting a new career, or finally reaching a certain milestone. January means a new beginning and a chance to get it right.

    As 2014 kicks off in full swing, I’d like to share with you these few tips to help you stay on track with your resolutions (so they don’t fall by the wayside when February hits).

    Concentration: Ditch distractions and multi-tasking. Embrace mindfulness and single-tasking. By being fully present, you can channel your resources towards a singular purpose. By single tasking, you eliminate the switching costs in terms of time and energy that result from multi-tasking. 

    Clarity: Be clear with your purpose with yourself and others. Yes, your purpose can change. Then make your new direction clear for others. Clarity enables others to help you.

    Consistency: Build good habits and eliminate bad ones. If you want change, then you need to fuel the habits that get you there and remove the ones that hold you back.

    So, what’s your new year resolution? What steps are you taking to achieve them?

    Let’s make 2014 an awesome year!

    xoxo

    SL