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          5 Simple Steps for Achieving Your New Year's Resolutions

Each new year is full of promise and potential. Perhaps that's why so many of us choose this time of year to make positive changes in our lives.

And, believe it or not, achieving your goals can be easier than you think. The following 5 steps can help you get started and follow through!

1. Set realistic goals. The first step to your successful New Year's resolutions is to set realistic goals for the coming weeks and months. You can start by focusing on the things you're passionate about or the things you've always wanted to do. Maybe it's a worthy cause you want to become involved in…or maybe you want to kick a habit that's bothered you for years. If it's something that you're passionate about, you'll have a better chance of being successful. Once you have the topic, make sure you write down a specific, attainable goal. It's not enough to just think about doing something. Come up with a specific statement you want to achieve. For example, the most common resolution is to lose weight. But that's not specific enough. Write down exactly how much weight you want to lose and by when. But make it realistic…and healthy at the same time.

2. Make a simple plan to achieve each goal. Once you have your goals written down, take the resolution a step further by figuring out how you'll achieve it. That means breaking the goal down into simple steps that you can achieve over time. And, often, it means multiple little steps. So, for the weight loss resolution, you may write down a number of simple, daily or weekly steps - such as exercise 20 minutes three times a week, eat vegetables and fruit with each meal, switch to diet cola or better yet water during the day, and lose a certain number of pounds per month. Remember to consult a physician before starting any weight loss or exercise routine to make sure you're approaching it in a healthy manner.

3. Announce your goals. One of the best ways to make sure you stick to your goals is to make them known to your friends, coworkers, and family members. The reality is, once you've told people you'll do something, you'll feel more accountability than if you just keep it to yourself. You'll also have a cheering section to help you stay focused and positive as you work to achieve your goals. But don't just share your goals; share the specific steps that you're going to take each day or week to achieve those goals. If you use any social media websites to connect with friends and family, make your goals and steps part of your daily/weekly updates…it's a great way to get the word out and hear feedback from people who want to help you stay on track.

4. Track and celebrate your progress. Small steps aren't just about making your way to a goal; they're also about building momentum, a positive attitude, and celebrating successes along the way. There are a number of ways to track and celebrate your success. For example, if your goal is to work out 20 minutes a day three times a week, you can use a marker and a calendar. Each day you work out, simply color that day in green (or another positive color that you like). As the month unfolds, you'll see more and more green covering the calendar, which will help you see just how much work you've done and keep you motivated to keep going. In addition, you can also use social media to track and celebrate your success. Maybe you tweet or update your Facebook status every time you exercise. Or maybe you announce when you've lost a few pounds. The point is, you've already announced your goals to friends and family as a way to hold yourself accountable, now it's time to celebrate with those same people every time you achieve a step along the way.

5. Don't get discouraged. You're bound to have good weeks and bad weeks. Just because you fall off track once or twice doesn't mean you should give up. Instead, acknowledge that you had a bad day or week, figure out what happened to throw you off track (maybe it was a busy or stressful week), and then make a plan to overcome the problem if it happens again. For example, if you had a tough week at work that required you to work late and miss the trip to the gym, make a plan to be proactive the next time work gets busy. Perhaps you make a plan to walk during your lunch break or wake up early to do jumping jacks and push-ups before heading into the office. But…whatever you do…don't give up on your goals or yourself. Review your plan and recommit yourself to those simple steps. You can even use social media to acknowledge a mistake and commit to overcoming that problem in the future. That way, you'll have a new sense of accountability and support from your friends and family.

Best wishes to you in achieving all your goals and dreams this year. And if your New Year's resolutions involve any financial or housing matters that I can help with, please call or email today. I'll be happy to help out in any way that I can.

CJ Baxendale
Mortgage Loan Officer
NMLS ID # 564370
Arvest Bank Mortgage Lending
Office: 405-366-3053
Mobile: 405-570-6535
Fax: 405-366-3068
Email: cbaxendale@arvest.com
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Take advantage of my 25 years experience as a real estate professional in Central Oklahoma. Call me now for a consultation if you are considering buying or selling real estate property in the near future.
Larry Minson
Cell 405-820-9506
Email: lminson@cox.net