Resolutions That Stick: Setting Realistic Goals In 2014
We love the idea of New Years Resolutions but hate that sometimes they are so hard to keep. According to Forbes Magazine, only 8% of people keep their resolutions! Over the years we have had a number of failed resolutions ourselves but we are still big advocates of setting goals and finding successful ways to achieve them. For this reason we wanted to share a few helpful pieces of advice for creating New Years Resolutions that stick. Setting realistic goals in 2014 will help ensure that you have a happy, healthy, and prosperous year ahead!
1. Consider setting a series of mini-goals rather than one big goal.
It can be easy to give up on your goal when you aren’t seeing much progress. To help avoid getting stuck in this rut, we recommend setting a few smaller goals that will help you achieve your overall end goal.
For example, instead of saying that you want to “Get your dream smile in 2014,” break it down into several smaller goals such as “Schedule hygiene appointment,” “Floss every day for a month,” “Discuss professional whitening options with dentist,” etc. You will feel more accomplished when you complete each of these but your end result will still be what you originally desired!
2. Post your goals somewhere you can see them everyday.
Hey, you’re busy. We totally get that. Maybe you wanted to call and schedule your preventative dental care appointment but amongst the craziness of life you simply forgot. To help avoid forgetting about your goals or getting behind on them, write them down and put them somewhere you will see them everyday. Maybe this is posted on your bathroom mirror, or maybe it is scheduled as an alert on your smartphone. Be creative and find a reminder system that works for you!
3. Talk about your goals with a friend or family member.
From our experience, you are much more likely to follow through on something if there is someone else that knows your plan and is around to ask you how it’s going. Telling someone else about your goals provides accountability and encourages you to keep going so that you will have positive news to report. So go ahead and share your goals with someone – you may be surprised at how it encourages them to pursue their goals too!
4. Be realistic
Dreaming big is great, but if you aren’t realistic about your resolutions then you may get discouraged easily. One way to be realistic is to just pick 2 or 3 resolutions you want to focus on instead of 10 or 12.
5. Prepare for what could go wrong
If you go ahead and anticipate what may keep you from completing your resolutions then you will be that much more prepared to not let these obstacles get in your way. For example, if you really want to straighten your teeth this year, you may want to expect that there is going to be an out of pocket expense that you need to plan for instead of allowing the anticipated cost to surprise and deter you.
Conclusion
What are some of your Resolutions for 2014? Do any of them involve your dental health? Keep in mind that good oral health is positively linked to good overall health, and that good oral hygiene can actually help prevent certain diseases from invading your body! On behalf of Rusnak Family Dentistry, good luck with all of your goals and dreams in the upcoming year!
