In Fortune Investor's Guide 2015, they say the Fortune Crystal Ball shows that there's a lot to look forward to in 2015. But other than the new Apple Watch, advances in medical science and accelerated global growth -- I'm excited! -- what else is there to look forward to?
With the new year already here and the holidays a busy blur of friends, family and festivities, how much thought have we really put into our 2015 goals and resolutions? If you're anything like me, you probably contemplate your New Year's goals and resolutions a day or two or maybe even three after New Year's, right?
January 1 offers us a reset button. - Jessica Alba
In an interview in Natural Health, Jessica Alba says that "January 1 offers us a reset button." Whether we have given any real thought to what we would like to create, focus on, lose, overcome, do or achieve in 2015 -- my focus is to deepen my yoga practice, spend more time with family and publish my books -- there is no time like the present to get cracking!
So hopefully you hit the reset button on January 1 -- if not there's still time! To help us make a good life great in 2015, here are a few tips from 11 -- including the ones mentioned above -- magazines, celebrities and experts!
2015: The Year Ahead with Time. In addition to Scott Kelly spending one year in space while his identical twin stays on earth, Time shares how we can make our 2015 resolutions stick. In an article by Mandy Oaklander, she says that with the turn of another year our slates are wiped clean -- aka Jessica Alba's reset button -- and we should take advantage of it. She says that new research is refining the art of goal setting, offering some fresher, less obvious insight to help us make 2015 the year we finally lose weight, start a business, publish that book or do whatever it is we've been wanting to do.
Two out of the six steps Oaklander provides includes: 1. Making a plan and 2. Not having a backup plan. She says that the terrible irony is that the more we want a goal, the less likely we are to plan for it. Therefore by making a plan, rather than relying on our good intentions alone, we save ourselves from procrastination. The reason we don't want to have a backup plan, like Jennifer Lopez, is because it may deter us from chasing our main goal. Oaklander says that in some new studies researchers suspect that people who have backup goals may make failure feel more acceptable.
People can achieve anything if they feel the goal is worth it. But most people don't stop to think in detail about why they pursue a goal, or what achieving it might look like in their life... --Jillian Michaels, Former The Biggest Loser Trainer
"Maximize Your Life" with Jillian Michaels. In an interview with Jillian Michaels in the January Good Housekeeping, she says people think that her "Maximize Your Life" Tour is about getting your sh*t together but it actually means appreciating that you are worthy and capable of having more -- and who doesn't deserve more? In Jillian's seven steps to success she says, "People can achieve anything if they feel the goal is worth it. But most people don't stop to think in detail about why they pursue a goal, or what achieving it might look like in their life..."
I love Jillian's Goal Pyramid where we place our long-term goal at the top, followed by our monthly goal, weekly goals and daily goals. Then at the very bottom we have our immediate goals. The pyramid acts as a road map and helps us breakdown our goals into simpler, more attainable steps.
The point of a resolution is to improve, not to tear yourself apart... -Ashley Borden, Los Angeles Celebrity Trainer
Make 2015 "Your Happiest and most Glamour-ist Year! Inside Glamour they talk about "The Body Project" and say if "shaping up" is anywhere on our resolution list this year -- isn't it always? --then Glamour has 13 not-too-hard ways to help get us there. Tips number 1 and 2 are by Los Angeles Celebrity Trainer Ashley Borden -- I follow Ashley's full body foam roller rollout routine here almost daily. Tip number 1 is to focus on today's goal and not the long-term goal. Ashley says "Aiming to lose 20 pounds is great, but... the instant gratification of achieving smaller goals, like actually getting up for our morning workout today, tomorrow, and the day after that..." will help keep us motivated.
Tip number 2 says to not say anything negative about our bodies. "The point of a resolution is to improve, not to tear yourself apart," says Ashley Borden. "So no talking sh-t." I like to tell my clients to incorporate positive affirmations or mantras into their beauty routine. One way I suggest doing this is by telling ourselves how much we love our body, our skin, our legs, etc., while putting on lotion or lathering up in the shower in the morning.
Launch into 2015 InStyle with 31 Days to the Best You Ever! InStyle suggests that rather than making a few "daunting" New Year's resolutions, we should try setting 31 little ones that are a lot more fun. For example on January 1 they suggest curing our New Year's Day hangovers with some licorice-root tea to help settle our stomach. On January 3 they suggests that we redefine the word diet and say sayonara to juice cleanses and fasting. On January 28 -- you get the idea. Maybe not all of the suggestions will resonate with you (not all of them resonated with me), however, we get the gist. Start off the New Year with some easy to achieve daily goals to help us kick off 2015.
I'm such a believer that making lifestyle changes like this works so much better when you involve other people. A little bit of it is telling on yourself. A little is being buoyed by other people. -- Jim Romanoff, Eating Well Food Editor
"Go Public With Your Goals" While Eating Well. In Eating Well food editor Jim Romanoff wanted to shed a little extra weight so he set a goal to lose 12 pounds in 12 weeks. To support his goal he posted this on Facebook and pledged to weigh in every Wednesday, which was named Weigh-in Wednesdays, and shared the results online. Talk about holding yourself accountable!
Part of Jim Romanoff's goal for creating a Facebook group was to inspire others and to show them that you can lose weight without eating diet food. He says, "I'm such a believer that making lifestyle changes like this works so much better when you involve other people. A little bit of it is telling on yourself. A little is being buoyed by other people."
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