With another year just around the corner, you're probably setting new goals and thinking about how you can improve yourself. However, while new year's resolutions are certainly popular, it's easy to slip back into old habits if you don't keep yourself in check.
To prevent that, here are some of the best ways to stay motivated in the new year.
1. Set a Limit on Your List of Intentions
While thinking about our new goals or aspirations for the new year, it can be easy to list six or seven different things you'd like to change. But setting too many goals can become overwhelming and make you far more likely to give up altogether.
If you want to keep your new habits consistent and long-term, try starting with one or two new goals. Then, if you find yourself doing well with them a few months into the year, you can add a few more on top. Remember that forming new habits and striving to reach new goals takes energy and time, and it's easy to become overloaded.
While you can always set your goals down on paper, you can also use your notes app, or try a goal-setting app like Weekdone.
Download: Weekdone for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
2. Get Yourself a Scheduling App
You may think that scheduling apps seem a little gimmicky, but they can be hugely helpful in staying on top of things. It's easier to stay on track when you install an app right on your phone that reminds you about tasks, helps you plan your day, and congratulates you for getting things done.
These are some great scheduling apps to try today.
1. Trello
Trello is a fairly simple app but offers users an easy way to keep track of tasks and plan ahead. With this app, you can create a list of tasks that need to be done and tasks that are currently in progress. Then, move them to the Done column once you're all finished.
Additionally, you can create different boards to further compartmentalize your tasks. The app is completely free to use and keeps things straightforward and simple.
Download: Trello for Android | iOS (Free)
2. Any.do
Any.do allows you to create current and future plans while also reminding you of upcoming tasks. You can divide your tasks into different time scales and create individual lists so that you can more easily organize what needs to be done. Create grocery lists, make a night routine, and keep everything in one place.
Additionally, Any.do lets you sync your phone's default calendar to the app, so you can see all your upcoming events and add new events. It's an all-in-one app that will help you stay on top of everything.
Download: Any.do for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
3. Todoist
Todoist is another great option for those looking to get organized. This app has a similar layout to Any.do, with more of a focus on creating projects and labels for your tasks.
You can also prioritize your tasks so that the most urgent or important ones will show up at the top of your to-do list, which is pretty useful if you tend to forget what needs doing next.
Download: Todoist for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
3. Log Your Ups and Downs in a Diary
An important part of creating new habits and reaching your goals is keeping track of your ups and downs. Making changes without facing obstacles and unexpected hiccups is rare, and documenting challenges can help you look back on your struggles and remember why and how you kept going.
Try logging your daily challenges and victories as a way to check in with yourself on your journey. This will only take a few minutes every day and could play a key role in staying motivated.
Keeping a physical diary can be a great way to log your peaks and lows, but you can also use a diary app, such as Day One, to document your days.
Using Day One might make journaling much more convenient and efficient if you're a person who is always busy. Day One can be a simple text-based diary, or you can use it to attach photos, locations, audio recordings, and other details that can help you keep a rich journal of your progress.
Download: Day One for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
4. Look After Your Mind
You may not think it, but your mind needs looking after. Our brains are susceptible to a range of distractions and anxieties, all of which can affect our motivation and productivity. So, how do you look after your mind properly?
One of the most popular mental health techniques is mindfulness, which involves practicing being in the present moment and noticing important things about yourself and the world around you that you might normally pass you by.
There's a huge list of apps to choose from when it comes to practicing mindfulness, but a select few are particularly helpful.
1. Calm
You may have already heard of or used Calm, a hugely popular app that's used by people around the world for mindfulness techniques and resources. With this app, you can listen to sleep tracks, take part in meditation sessions, and even listen to stories from celebrities like Lebron James and Nick Offerman.
What's more, you can use the app's check-in feature to log your feelings each day so that you can see how your mood changes on a day-to-day basis. There are also soundscapes and music to help you calm down or fall asleep.
Download: Calm for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
2. Headspace
Headspace is another popular mindfulness app that helps you relax and zone out after a tough day. With this app, you can listen to gorgeous nature soundscapes, take part in meditation sessions, and make use of its sleep-inducing resources.
The app offers stretching sessions to get your body ready for the day, as well as anxiety-relieving exercises to shake off that tension. You can also keep track of your journey and take part in recommended sessions from the app, such as the one-minute breathing exercise.
Download: Headspace for Android | iOS (Free, subscription available)
5. Remember That Things Won't Always Be Easy
If you're looking to create new habits and achieve your goals, it's crucial to remember that the road isn't always going to be smooth and straightforward. You might feel burned out some days, or have to overcome mental blocks on others.
But this doesn't mean that you're failing or not doing enough.
It's natural to have days where you don't want to be as productive as usual or moments where you just feel overwhelmed. But you're not alone in feeling this way.
It's okay to let it out if you're feeling a little down every now and then, and it's okay to not be at your best all the time. You can skip the occasional run or miss a meditation session if you're not feeling it. Give yourself time to recover and then get back to it.
It doesn't matter how quickly you're moving as long as you're not standing still!
It Might Not Be a Perfect Year, But You Can Make It Special
The new year is as good a time as any to commit yourself to positive changes that can improve your life forever. And, with these handy tips, you can ensure you stay on track and give yourself credit where credit is due. Good luck!