January 2012 - Issue 90 - www.clareevans.co.uk

Hello ,

A very Happy New Year to you.

I hope you had a good Christmas and New Year Break and you're ready to go for this year.  I know we're in to the second week of the year, perhaps this is your first week back at work.

Have you got your goals and plans together for the year yet?

I spent a productive few hours between Christmas and New Year planning my goals for this year and putting them down on a spreadsheet and bringing them to life with specific actions and objectives. Not just for my business but a few personal goals too.

Do you have the post holiday blues after too much over indulgence or are you full of the possibilities of the new year? This month's article will give you a few tips to create what you want in 2012.

Drop me an email and let me know what you've got planned for this year.

Keep in touch and get extra tips from my blog - or Follow Me on Twitter - or contact me on Linked In or Facebook.

Clare

P.S. Feel free to pass this newsletter on to friends and colleagues.  Thank you.

Setting out at the beginning of a new year as you intend to continue is always a good starting point.

However, most people slip back into bad habits or forget all about those New Year resolutions by about mid- February if not before.

But how can you make those resolutions stick?

How can you make sure that all those good intentions and possibilities at the beginning of the year actually continue?

Put some thought into the process. And WRITE THEM DOWN!

It's surprising the number of people I've spoken to already this year who either have a vague idea of what they want to achieve or it's 'all in my head'.

Make a plan - it's all very well having a resolution or goal for the year but unless you know how it's going to happen and the actions you need to take to achieve it, you may not even get started.

Write down your actions on a daily, weekly or monthly plan. Use the checklists, planners and worksheets I sent you in the 12 Days Tips.

Start slowly - one of my favourite quotes is:

"A journey of 1000 miles begins with the first step".

If you set off with great but totally unrealistic goals, you're likely to fall at the first hurdle, when you realise that you've bitten off more than you can manage or it's something you're never likely to stick to. Like that well intentioned diet, finishing work on time, spending more time with the family ...

Get motivated - really understand what's motivating you to achieve your goals this year. Is it because you 'should', it's expected, it's what everyone else is doing or because it's something you really want. How much do you want it? How different will your life

Go public - if you tell someone what your goals for the year, you're far more likely to achieve them. Accountability can be a powerful driver. Not only have you told someone else what you plan to do but they can check up on you, keep you on track and give you a motivational boost when you need it.

They may even join you if you have a shared goal. You're less likely to let yourself off the hook or forget about them, when someone else also knows.

Get started - sometimes the hardest thing is just getting started. We tell ourselves all sorts of reasons and make excuses for why we can't do something or why it won't work. Those old patterns of behaviours don't mean you can't change. Once you get started you might find things aren't quite as negative as you thought.

Focus on the little things - quite often it can be the simple things in life that can bring us the greatest pleasure and sense of achievement. Look around at some of the smaller things you can change this year, not just the big, challenging, life changing goals.

Success builds confidence - as you tick off your successes, you can move on to more, once you see what you can achieve. Don't give up just because you don't get instant results. Sometimes we're too focused on the 'all or nothing'. Remember your 1000 mile journey.

If you want support and motivation to your year the start it deserves, give me a call or why not book a free Strategy Session.

If you want support and motivation to give your year the start it deserves, give me a call or book a free Strategy Session.

Until next month.