New you: be confident and achieve your goals
Everyday ways you can change your life and get the self-belief to reach new goals for home, work or health.
Whatever your goals are, try these tips for succeeding – they won’t cost you anything!
Celebrate an existing achievement
Boost your confidence by reflecting on a previous success, even if it seems small or unrelated. For example, it might be that you recently helped your child learn all the times-tables, or you did a great job decorating the spare room.
Get exercising
A good walk or a swim at least three times a week will make you feel fresh, energized and good about yourself.
Look great
Make just a little effort to dress more smartly to start the day with a boost. Or get a haircut – a brilliant way to feel renewed.
Find a goal buddy
It doesn’t have to be someone going for the same goal – just someone you can text or chat to about your progress.
Plan
Plot the steps to your goal and do research. It could be something like finding out where you can cycle, if exercise is your goal. This isn’t boring groundwork – it’s the first target you will be able to tick off your list!
Write it all down
What you want to achieve? Spend time considering this, be realistic and amend your written plan if you need to. Make ‘to do’ lists and keep notes of useful tactics.
Pace yourself
Plan where you want to be in a year, six months, a month, a week and, if relevant, what small daily targets you can manage.
Review your progress
Go back to your first notes. Celebrate the successes and think creatively about what you can do to resolve set-backs.
Savvy tip
Stay positive. If you have a set-back or have to overcome a problem to make progress, keep your notes upbeat. For example: ‘Read on the bed for two hours three evenings a week’ is a more positive tactic to write down than ‘don’t just sit on the sofa stuffing crisps’!
Pass it on – motivation tips
Check out our 7 ideas to help you Motivate yourself to try something new.