January is almost over! That means the first month of the new year is ready to be closed in the books. Things are about to get real. This is the time to either continue on with that great motivation and all those intentions you started with a few weeks ago or let them slowly fade and fall back into old habits. As you know, I set out full force and already accomplished a big chunk of the things I listed for myself this year. However, I am not finished since my wishes for the year are about growth and I will never be done with them all.
My motivation to keep working on the things left and the progress I still want to make is still there and I plan to keep it there through the rest of the year and beyond. That feeling of “newness” and endless possibility is wonderful and I don’t want to lose that. Here are my tips on keeping the “newness” of the new year ALL year ‘round!
- Share Your Progress. Depending on your goal or intention, sharing where you are at and how you’re doing with said goal is a great way to stay motivated. Staying accountable to someone else, a friend, social media, your blog, whatever, will keep you accountable to yourself as well and motivate you to keep on going!
- Keep Up With Multiple Goals. If you have one goal or intention you have been tirelessly working on for weeks and just need a break, focus on another goal! You don’t have to work on one goal until you get it, nor do you have to focus on ALL your goals at once. Jump around, take breaks, but keep coming back to them all. This will keep the “newness” in your routine and habits.
- Try It A New Way. Just because it may be new in the beginning, after awhile you will need to change it up or how you’re going about something to keep it fresh and keep yourself growing. Maybe you’ve been running the same route for weeks, time to switch it up. Maybe you’ve been showing one random act of kindness a day, switch it up and do two. Or maybe you’ve been adding an extra serving of veggies to you day, well now it’s time for 2 extra servings!
- Remind Yourself Why. Keep a vision board, a visible list you see every day, a journal for documenting, maybe even take a photo-a-day depicting your work on that goal or intention. Whatever you do, keep it fresh in your mind as to WHY you choose those goals or intentions and what they are. You will want to remember why they were so important to you in the first place to have chosen them to work on this year. Don’t let that slip and be forgotten, thus causing you to lose steam and momentum!
- Reward Yourself. This is obvious. You need to be proud of your work and accomplishments throughout the year. You need to give yourself a pat on the back and keep yourself smiling. Rewarding yourself can come in many forms. From a special date night or a night in alone, a spa day, something from your wish list, a favorite meal, or some new clothes to keep you looking stylish and fresh.
My most recent reward has been a new get up from the Target® C9 athletic collection. Since running has been one of my main goals and I only enjoy running outside, that means I need some warm clothes to wear! This called for some new leggings (the C9 by Champion® Women’s Premium Legging) and a long sleeve (the C9 by Champion® Women’s Cold Weather Run Pullover).
I love my old cheap workout clothes, but whenever I get a chance to wear a new outfit, especially those first few wears, I always feel a bit more powerful and motivated! I’m treating myself by looking nice, feeling nice, and moving my body in ways that make me this much closer to accomplishing what I want!
So tell me:
+ How do you keep the newness of the new year ALL year-round?
+ How do you like to reward yourself when you accomplish a goal?
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***Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Target® through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about Target® C9, all opinions are my own.***
Sherry says
February 6, 2015 at 1:36 amGreat post and good tips. Thanks for sharing with us at Funtastic Friday. Hope to see you again this week.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 6, 2015 at 6:41 amThank you!
Shirley Wood says
February 5, 2015 at 9:25 pmGreat thoughts. I’d love to reward myself with some new workout clothes! Sounds like a great idea. I don’t usually reward myself with anything but I really like that idea. Thank you for sharing with us at Merry Monday. Please be sure to come back Sunday night for the new party.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 6, 2015 at 12:37 amHaha, I don’t either, but sometimes…. 😉
kimmythevegan says
February 1, 2015 at 7:07 pmThese are such great tips. Now is the time to start letting things slip or keep focused! I’ve had to change focus on my goals with a recent injury, but that’s ok – just working more on some goals than others that are more easily attainable while injured.
Love the vision board idea – that’s a great one! And rewards are my fav, especially new workout clothes =D
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
February 1, 2015 at 7:43 pmRight! We come to setbacks we didn’t foresee, it’s just time to adapt and change out plans! XOXO
Kate Rigby (@mrsdiggerhound) says
January 30, 2015 at 10:47 amGreat advice,. It’s so true, you feel all great and enthusiastic in January and then it goes to pot. But I am determined to keep reviewing and keep working at my goals.
Thanks for the inspiration
Kate
over from Funtastic Friday :o)
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 30, 2015 at 11:24 amYes! That’s the spirit!
Erlene says
January 30, 2015 at 4:38 amGreat tips for keeping motivated and focused. I don’t really think about a new year resolutions/goals. I like to set goals all year and not just at the beginning of the year.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 30, 2015 at 7:04 amYes! It doesn’t matter when you give yourself something to work towards!
Andie Conn says
January 29, 2015 at 7:50 pmI really found your post here helpful! I especially like the advice to “remind yourself why” and the picture a day idea. Thanks for sharing (:
I am starting my fitness routine a bit late, but since the year is only 6% over I still have time to get started!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 29, 2015 at 7:57 pmOf course! It is NEVER to late! You never have to wait until a new year to start! Start right this second and find your “why”! XOXO
Robin says
January 27, 2015 at 12:27 pmGreat post, I really like the one to reward yourself this is a must to me!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 27, 2015 at 1:20 pmWe all deserve some self-love!
RFC says
January 27, 2015 at 7:47 amThese are great tips Rebecca! I can’t BELIEVE it’s almost February! The C9 collection from Target is my favorite. Cute stuff, but inexpensive enough that I don’t feel guilty for buying ANOTHER pair of tights or a tank (because my closet claims to be full already, haha!)
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 27, 2015 at 8:00 amThanks Heather! Haha, yes! When I can find good workout leggings for a good price I am so in!
Kristy @ Southern In Law says
January 27, 2015 at 1:48 amI think I probably keep the “newness” year round by thinking month by month, rather than year by year. I usually have so much going on it’s easy to get overwhelmed when thinking of the year as a whole, so I like to think about the month at hand!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 27, 2015 at 4:22 amA little at a time seems to work for a lot of people 😛
Kristen says
January 27, 2015 at 1:09 amI love that headband! So cute! I also motivate myself with new clothes – I have new shoes on the way and I can’t wait to test them out!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 27, 2015 at 8:42 amHaha, I wear it during every run 😉
New shoes are a surefire way to get you motivated!
Corinne says
January 26, 2015 at 11:57 pmI spy the W.H.! haha these are great tips! it can be extremely difficult to keep your new years resolutions after just a few weeks.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 27, 2015 at 1:05 amHahaha 😉
That’s why we should only set passionate goals and intentions and have this “all year motivation” plan ready to go!
Sandra Laflamme says
January 26, 2015 at 9:16 pmRewarding small goals is definitely a way to keep everything fresh. I love your Gear from the Target C9 collection. The pattern on the tights is great!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 27, 2015 at 1:03 amI love the leggings too! Perfect for any workout or color outfit!
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf says
January 26, 2015 at 9:13 pmIsn’t it crazy that after only a month, we feel like the newness of the New Year has already worn off? Love these tips – especially to try it a new way. Flipping your approach or perspective can be such a big motivator!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 27, 2015 at 1:02 amI know! But we are all not going to let that happen! 😉
Changing things up is a surefire way to spark some newness!
Ariana says
January 26, 2015 at 8:01 pmSuch great tips! It’s so easy for our enthusiasm about our goals to slip away this time of year. I especially like the vision board. I have yet to make mine for the year, but I still have last year’s hanging over my bed & it’s a constant source of inspiration!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 27, 2015 at 8:42 amThat’s great! I’ve never made a vision board, but I know a lot of people love them!
Rebecca says
January 26, 2015 at 5:30 pmGreat tips, Rebecca! It’s hard to think that its January because I’m only wearing a sweater outside but continuing to improve & start over when needed is a great way to keep that newness for me!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 26, 2015 at 5:32 pmIt has been one weird month for sure! But full of great accomplishments that I want to keep up with!
Kerri Olkjer says
January 26, 2015 at 5:29 pmGreat tips! So important to keep that momentum.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 26, 2015 at 5:33 pm100% for sure!
Evolve with Mary says
January 26, 2015 at 4:42 pmI tend to workout harder when I like what I’m wearing. I’ll have to pop into Target and check out the workout section. Mama always needs sweats and since I’m going to start running outside a warm/breathable jacket maybe just what the doctor ordered. I also love your tips on keeping the “newness” all year around. Thanks for sharing!!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 26, 2015 at 4:57 pmThank you so much Mary! Woohoo for running! This shirt and leggings were both super warm which was totally nice to running outside!
Renee @ Bendiful Blog says
January 26, 2015 at 3:50 pmGreat tips! Especially for those of us who quickly fall off the wagon! Cute gear, c9 always has cute stuff that’s pretty affordable.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 26, 2015 at 4:05 pmRight! I hope it can give someone some ideas!
I love the stuff! Everything is so warm too!
Emma @ em-poweredwellness says
January 26, 2015 at 1:28 pmLove these tips Rebecca! I keep a journal where I can look back at goals I set and write down my progress, set-backs, changes towards those goals
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 26, 2015 at 2:17 pmThat is wonderful! Sounds very detailed!
Patty @ Reach Your Peak says
January 26, 2015 at 1:24 pmGreat tips! I was just thinking about this last night actually. I opened up my journal to remind myself of what my goals were for 2015. So far, so good!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 26, 2015 at 2:15 pmWoohoo! That’s great! I keep rereading what I listed for the year and knowing that I’ve already crossed things off is so motivating!
Lisa @ RunWiki says
January 26, 2015 at 11:24 amYou and I are so on the same page- sticking with goals is so much about feelings- sometimes you just need to remember that new feeling for it to come flooding back- these tips are spot on. Thank you for sharing and as you know I am huge fan of Target C9 as well.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 26, 2015 at 1:17 pmHaha, yes! I loved your post today 😉
We should only ever make goals that we feel so passionately about in the first place anyway! It makes them real and worth it!
Katie @ Gettin' My Healthy On says
January 26, 2015 at 10:20 amI love these! Great ways to stay motivated and make progress with goals. I tend to set somewhat loose goals for myself and then just..continue going about my business like normal, but I know doing things like sharing my progress and trying them in a new way would help me stay focused. Great tips. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 26, 2015 at 10:56 amThat’s me! I set loose goals, nothing with a deadline! But it does feel good to keep some motivation going all year for those intentions!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
January 26, 2015 at 10:16 amAwesome post Rebecca!
Good golly – the first month of 2015 is almost over!!! For me – I thrive on change – so, I have to change out my workout routine often – while I love to run, I gotta throw in a week or so of something totally different!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 26, 2015 at 10:44 amThank you Shashi!
It’s crazy! I do need some change, just a little spice, but I do like routine!
Farrah says
January 26, 2015 at 9:27 amIt’s hard to believe that January is already over! The group fitness classes at my gym are still packed as ever, so maybe people haven’t fallen off the wagon yet! My fingers are crossed for htem. :O
I love Target! <3 The clothes you chose look great! I'm all about my old/cheap workout clothes too because I'm less worried about messing them up (hah), but new outfits make me happy too. :]
I think all my goals are usually centered around personal growth rather than "cross-off-the-list" items, so I'm definitely with you on that. Those are great tips for keepin' your eyes on the prize!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 26, 2015 at 9:59 amHahaha, hopefully 😉
I always love that first wear! Everything feels new and fresh! But I also love the comfort of the old ratty stuff 😉
Whatever we can do to keep a good mindset all year so we CAN keep growing!
Alanna says
January 26, 2015 at 9:10 amRewarding yourself with some new running gear is the perfect motivation 😉 Trying new ways with rewards is how I keep myself motivated.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 26, 2015 at 10:08 amRight! We deserve some “fun” things to keep us going all year!
Lisa @ Healthy Nibbles & Bits says
January 26, 2015 at 9:01 amTwo things I need to do to keep my new year’s goals alive: make mini goals for each month, and write about my progress in a journal! I feel like I’ve been slipping a bit, so I definitely needed this post to remind me of all the goals I made this year!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 26, 2015 at 10:07 amI like writing about your progress! That’s what I like about the blog, you can share on here which also keeps you accountable!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma says
January 26, 2015 at 8:16 amReminding myself why I set goals and really thinking about it helps refocus when things start feeling stale. I don’t blindly decide to do things so the meaning is there, but sometimes the motives are too easily forgotten when things start getting difficult.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 26, 2015 at 8:22 amThat is exactly right! I just need to remind myself why I thought the goal or wish was so important to begin with!
Pamela Hernandez says
January 26, 2015 at 7:58 amI try to think of each day as a new experience. I try to start the day with an attitude that all is possible. It helps to break it down. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 26, 2015 at 8:20 amKeeping a positive mindset each day is great! We just have to make sure we keep that mindset throughout the year!
Natalie @ Feasting on Fruit says
January 26, 2015 at 7:58 amWorkouts in new workout clothing are always more fun and fueled by the newness, so I like this reward idea! Plus I love shopping for exercise clothing 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 26, 2015 at 8:14 amHaha, workout clothes are the best! They beat jeans any day 😉
Linda @ Veganosity says
January 26, 2015 at 7:54 amGreat post Rebecca. This is about the time of year that the parking lot at my gym starts to get back to normal. All of those resolutionists, as I call them, quit coming to the gym, and the regulars breathe a sigh of relief because there is room in the studios and weight rooms again. Truthfully, that makes me a little sad, because to me it’s like watching people give up on something that could potentially change their lives for the better.
Love your Target gear! I prefer to spend less money on my running clothes because it doesn’t take long for them to get grungy and then it’s time for new ones. Besides, Target had great gear for the price, no need to spend $100 on running pants.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 26, 2015 at 8:20 amI feel yea! It’s good to see space free-up from all those who really don’t care about their health, but it also makes me so sad that they DON’T care :/
Right! No one needs to by lulu for every outfit! Haha, I think their stuff isn’t good quality anyway 😉
Emily @My Healthyish Life says
January 26, 2015 at 7:21 amI think setting mini-goals throughout the year is what keeps me motivated! I prefer that to one big resolution in the beginning of the year because it’s reduces the pressure to succeed.
lindsay says
January 26, 2015 at 7:43 amsame here! i like daily focuses or challenges. It helps me keep a good outlook on life in general.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 26, 2015 at 8:13 amThe little steps, right 😉 I like just having one big vision, but working at it slowing, chipping away!
Kelly says
January 26, 2015 at 7:18 amThese are great ideas, Rebecca. I think mixing up the routine is key to avoid boredom and plateau. Changing up is good for body, mind, and soul. Have a great week!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 26, 2015 at 8:13 amTotally! It keeps you consistent and interested!
Elizabeth @ Enjoy Every Bite says
January 26, 2015 at 7:16 amThese are all great ideas! It can be really hard to stay motivated throughout the year. I find that when I’m consistent with my goals it’s easier to keep up at them – like eating healthy and going to the gym regularly.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 26, 2015 at 8:12 amYea! If it becomes a habit, then it is much easier to keep with it as it becomes just a normal part of life!