Five Steps To Achieve Your 2013 Weight AND Money Goals
By Steve Repak
Congratulations on being one of the 48% of the population who actually made a New Year's resolution. Now for a reality check… less than 10% of you will actually be successful. Don't get discouraged but use that truth to light a fire under your butt and do something about it! Most resolutions that are made are by people who want to be in better physical shape or better fiscal shape. The GREAT news is that five simple steps that can help you accomplish BOTH!
Step 1: DO Something
The key word is DO! You are probably thinking that it doesn't take a rocket scientist to come to that conclusion but the truth is that it is impossible to change what is going on in your life without doing something. Do is an ACTION verb so the first steps is to TAKE ACTION. I like to remind people that the hardest step is the first step! Many personal trainers tell their clients that the hardest weight to push when you finally decide to get into shape is the front door to the gym. The same is true with getting out of debt or saving money. It might not be as easy as opening a door but it is as easy as pulling out a Tupperware bowl, filling it with water, putting in your credit cards and then placing it in the freezer. Take action and make a commitment to yourself, and the toughest part will be behind you.
Step 2: Set Your Goals
Your goals need to be ACHIEVABLE, CHALLENGING, and SPECIFIC. If your goals are not
achievable because you set them too high you will quickly become discouraged and eventually quit, but if you don't make your goals
challenging, you won't see any REAL change. Finally, your goals need to be
specific. Don't say your goal is to lose weight or to build up your savings. A better goal would be to lose 1-2 pounds weekly, 5 pounds in a month and by June you want to have lost 30 lbs. Don't say you want to have more money in the bank to be in better fiscal shape. A better goal would be to save at least $25 a week, $100 a month and by June you want to have an additional $600 in savings.
Step 3: Make a Plan and Write It Down
To start your plan, you will want to conduct an initial assessment. You have to KNOW where you are STARTING FROM to get to where YOU WANT TO BE. If your goal is to be able to complete a 5k run in June in less than an hour, how far and how fast can you run now? If your goal is to build your savings to $1,500 by year end, how much do you have in savings and how much are you saving now? Once you have conducted your initial assessment write it down. It might not be pleasant but use that reality as motivation instead of discouragement. Your next step is to develop a strategy to get you from your initial assessment to your ultimate goal. It is the "How" part of what you will have to DO. Put what you are going to DO in WRITING! A key point to always remember is that your plan needs to be flexible because there are going to be times when you might get thrown off track. Don't let getting off track be your excuse to QUIT! Deal with it, make any necessary adjustments, and get back on course. I can't stress this enough… PUT EVERYTHING IN WRITING! There are several studies that show that people who write their plans down have a higher probability of achieving their goals than those that don't.
Step 4: Select an Accountability Partner
Your probability for success will increase by simply selecting someone who will keep you accountable for your decisions. I am not saying you need a personal trainer or you need to hire yourself a financial professional, but simply that you need to have someone that can help you stay on track with your goals. Pick a friend or a family member with a positive attitude who will provide you with encouragement and sometimes a swift kick in the rear end when you really need it. You will also want to maintain a journal where you record your progress. It could be a journal where you write down what you are eating at each meal, how much you are exercising each day, or maybe it is a financial journal in which you are itemizing exactly where and on what you are spending your money. Each week you want to meet with your partner and show them your journal. Knowing that you have to show someone your meal journal might make the difference in choosing between eating an entire pizza or a salad with reduced fat dressing.
Step 5: Fight Your Emotions
Getting into shape, whether it is better physical shape or better fiscal shape, will require you to keep a lid on your emotions and accept the fact that you have to change. Many people associate change with pain. Change doesn't have to be as painful if you can focus on the future prize instead of the present sacrifice. It's mind over matter. To lose weight will require change. Choosing between eating a bowl of ice-cream instead of snacking on some almonds will require a change in your eating habits. The same principle is in action when you make purchases. A $4.00 coffee beverage doesn't sound extravagant, but if you purchase one every day you can rack up a monthly $120 coffee bill. Embrace change and don't allow your emotions to focus on what you have to give up now, but what it is going to take so you accomplish your goals!
As you see there are no secrets or shortcuts. Things will not change for the better until you want them to change and until you DO SOMETHING about it. Set your goals high but keep them realistic and specific. Put your plans in writing and pick someone who can help keep you accountable. Don't allow your emotions to derail you when you get off track but accept change as your only solution to the answer for achieving positive results, and finally make 2013 the year that you finally keep your New Year's Resolution!
Steve Repak, CFP® is the author of Dollars & Uncommon Sense: Basic Training For Your Money. For more information, please visit www.DollarsAnUncommonSense.com.
