Have you ever had a goal that you really wanted to achieve, that you knew could make a big difference in your life, but when the time came to start you just didn’t take action?

One of the biggest obstacles that prevents you from taking consistent, focused action toward your most important goals is fear…

Fear is known as False Evidence Appearing Real.

Various obstacles include:

• Fear of failure
• Fear of success
• Procrastination
• Moving from our comfort zone
• Lack of discipline
• Change
• Lack of time

Often, setting goals gets placed into the too hard basket. The following identifies why it is important to set goals.

• Goals help you establish priorities and decide what is truly important
• Achieving goals is a great way to spend your time
• Goals give you direction and a target
• More happiness
• Goals propel you forward
• Goals help us believe in ourselves
• Goals tell you what you truly want
• Goals help us live life to the fullest
• Setting goals is a fundamental component to long-term success
• Live your best life

A resolution is an intention, not a plan. Many people at the start of the New Year jump into action – any type of action – without thinking or investing time to create a clear sustainable plan.

Many studies have been done on the top 10 New Year’s Resolutions and they were:

1. Improve financial situation
2. Lose weight
3. Develop a healthy habit (eating, exercise)
4. Change employment
5. Develop a regular saving plan
6. Break an unhealthy habit (smoking, alcohol, overeating)
7. Spend more time with family and friends
8. Other
9. Get organised
10. Develop a new skill or talent

This top 10 list doesn’t vary much each year. Why is that? It’s because we set the intention but we don’t plan to implement it.

What we need to stick to our new year’s resolutions is willpower. We need to give our New Year’s Resolution an action. For example, if you want to lose weight then the action may be walk 3 days a week. It is all about the small new habits we want to develop.

A goal is a result that you plan to achieve within a specific time frame.

The Process:

1. Decide on your goal
2. Plan how you will achieve it
3. Work hard to achieve your goal
4. Monitor and evaluate if you are making progress

Areas to Set Goals include:

• Financial
• Health
• Fitness
• Career
• Relationships – Significant other, Family, Friends
• Contribution / Community
• Time for You
• Personal Development

Our aim is for this Christmas to be magical and enjoyable. That means it all comes down to the planning. The tips are aimed to help you be organised this Christmas.

Next week is Christmas so this week it is all about our final steps. Ideally the last few weeks have helped and you are feeling in control in the lead up to Christmas Day.

• Purchase perishable foods
• Buy flowers
• Buy batteries
• Charge videos and cameras
• Decorate the table early
• Prepare foods in advance
• Take time to think about Christmas Eve
• Remember the milk and cookies for Santa and the Reindeers

Our aim is for this Christmas to be magical and enjoyable. That means it all comes down to the planning. The tips are aimed to help you be organised this Christmas.

Thieves are out and about more than normal at this time of the year. Some small tips to help keep your home safe.

• Lock the doors of the home and car
• Be aware when shopping
• Plan if you are going away for example:
  • Have someone collect your mail
  • Put your rubbish bins out
  • Arrange for the lawns to be mowed
  • Put timers on some lights and radios in the house
  • Arrange for someone to house sit
  • Let your neighbours know you will be away

Our aim is for this Christmas to be magical and enjoyable. That means it all comes down to the planning. The tips are aimed to help you be organised this Christmas.

Looking after yourself is key. So consider the following factors:

• Get enough sleep
• Drink plenty of water
• Continue to exercise
• Eat well in between functions
• Take time to think and plan