A Simple Guide to Helping You Achieve Your Goals

I’ve never been particularly good at sticking to any goals I set for myself. Not even my New Year’s resolutions, as far as I can remember. The longest time I have done was perhaps the last five months of eight grade, when I promised myself I would keep my math average at a B.  I did it! But it wasn’t something I did for the pure satisfaction of doing well in class, or the knowledge that I was able to commit to something for more than a week. Honestly, the only reason I didn’t fail math was because my parents had told me that if I didn’t get my grades up, I wouldn’t be allowed to watch Harry Potter or Bones anymore.

Lately I have been thinking more about things I have never really thought about, like what I can change about me that really bothers me? or how can I maybe connect more with other people my age? or even how can I just be more comfortable in my own skin? (Reading this out loud to my dog, I realize that it sounds crazy and even cliched, but life is filled with cliches, and she doesn’t really care.). I have decided to make answering the above questions my goals for the year. Which leads me to how I figured I would follow through on them.

1. Pick something You really want to accomplish, that way, you can do it the whole year. I mean, last year my biggest goals included doing the dishes right after dinner, and being more organized in the mornings. It got to the point that after two weeks, I couldn’t bring myself to even set out real dishes for dinner and used Dixie plates instead (I KNOW! TREE KILLER :(). And in the mornings, I just could not be bothered putting my pillows on the bed nicely.
2. Keep inspiration handy. I started seriously thinking about my New Year’s resolutions after reading this piece on HelloGiggles.com and this one on Rookie. Since then, I have gone back and read them a few times, and I even forced my sister to read them. I tried to get my parents to read them but they shook their heads at me because they thought I was going to launch myself into a very (very) spirited ‘Pro-Feminist’ rant. Pssht. Honestly, thought just keep any form of inspiration handy. I remember Kim Possible forced herself to work at that Fast-Food place by staring at a picture of the black leather jacket she wanted. Remember: TUNNEL VISION!
3. Don’t be too hard on yourself if it’s difficult to stick to your goal. Or be, if that’s what works for you. Personally, punishing myself never works. Instead, I give myself little pep talks and stuff. I also just ask myself what (insert fictional character) would do if they were me. I find asking myself what Jess from New Girl would do helps at times. Also, what would Hermione Granger do? and what would Bones do?  I feel that if arguing with your self is crazy, then punishing your self is too. But if, I dunno, talking to yourself in a very serious sort of way works, go ahead.
4. Don’t get frustrated if it accomplishing your goal is harder than expected. One of my sister’s friends tried becoming a vegan in a month. She wasn’t able to because she didn’t realize that in order to be vegan she would need to give up her UGG boots and earmuffs, and Thanksgiving turkey, and her mom’s awesome baked goods. Also, she didn’t realize that giving up meat and dairy products and not eating beans and rice and stuff was really not smart. She lasted about two months, until finally she couldn’t stand salad and ballet flats. So don’t forget: BABY STEPS.
5. Celebrate all those little milestones that get you closer to reaching your ultimate goal. It keeps you motivated, and it’s a lot of fun. Last year, for example, when I got a good grade in a math test or a quiz, I’d get to stay up later and watch the latest episode of Bones when it aired. Afterwards, I would get exactly ten minutes plus commercial breaks to over-analyze, and really drive everyone crazy with my excessive cheering/crying over whatever had just happened. So, maybe you won’t get as excited about a TV show about dead people as I did/still do, but find a way to reward yourself on your progress.