The new year is here! While most people are eager to make resolutions to improve their careers, relationships, and lifestyles, few will follow through with their newfound goals and achieve the results they desire. To ensure that you are the exception to this rule, taking the time to thoughtfully plan out your goals and decide how you are going to achieve them is key. Here are some practical tips to help you not only achieve your 2020 resolutions but make this your best year yet.

Be Realistic

The quickest way to watch your New Year's resolution fizzle out is by setting an unattainable goal. If you've never set foot in a gym, it may not be prudent to promise you're going to work out six days a week. While your resolution should be something that challenges you and aims to improve your life in some way, it should also be realistic. Being honest about what you're interested in and what your strengths are can help you stay on the right path. Rather than swearing to go to the gym every day when you know the chances of that occurring are low, perhaps you can aim to walk one mile on your lunch break at work. Self-awareness and honesty are key!

Make Sure it's Measurable 

Choosing a goal that is too vague is a common pitfall that people seem to make every year. Rather than making a resolution that is unclear or too broad, establish one that is concrete and can be tracked. Start by writing your goal down. Consider implementing a scheduled time for you to reach a particular part of your goal or at least an opportunity to check in on your progress. For example, your resolution may be to save $500 a month. To achieve this, you can write down where you intend the money to come from (eating out less, canceling subscriptions, etc.), then monitor your progress at the end of each week, making adjustments as needed. Visualizing your progress will help you see your progress and struggles, making it more likely that you follow through to the end.

Hold Yourself Accountable

There's no doubt that you will lose motivation to follow through with your New Year's plan at some point. It happens to everyone; the question is how will you stay motivated in these instances? Even with the best intentions, clearest goals, and adequate planning, it's easy to fall off track when you're busy, feeling lazy, or going at it alone. To combat the temptation to quit when your resolution seems inconvenient, find a friend or colleague who can hold you accountable. Whether or not they set the same resolution isn't as important as their ability to keep you motivated and influence you to accomplish what you set out to do.

Have Fun!

At the end of the day, New Year's resolutions shouldn't be more laborious than they are enjoyable. Choosing a goal that interests you and you will take pleasure in is essential to your ability to see it through. Perhaps this means trying something new that has always intrigued you, but you never dared to before. For many people, this could mean saying "goodbye" to a job that they find unfulfilling for one that they think would be more stimulating and rewarding. So what's the bottom line? If you find it entertaining, you'll be more eager to achieve it.

If you've been playing with the idea of making a career move that challenges and energizes you, the new year is the perfect time to take the plunge! The Hire Standard is committed to pairing quality talent with their ideal employers. Serving the San Francisco Bay area and beyond, our experienced team loves finding professionals their ideal positions in administration, customer support, management, and more. Contact us today to take the first step in making 2020 the year you won't regret!