New Year’s Eve is my favorite holiday. Yes, I do love the sequin dresses and popping champagne, but more than anything I love reflecting on the past year and setting goals for the future. Each year, I sit down with my pen and paper and carefully craft my New Year’s Resolutions. This is a special opportunity we all get to say good-bye to old habits and actively form new ones, but this is often easier said than done.
We all know that New Year’s Resolutions can be hard to keep. Of course we are all excited for the first few weeks, but as the year waxes on, our old habits take over and we quickly forget the promises we made ourselves just a month earlier.
A big resolution of mine this year is to travel more. Travel has always been important to me, and I’m ready now to start exploring the world. This is a resolution that can easily get pushed aside by work, relationships and money, but I’m determined to keep my promise this year. Here are a couple of tips that can help you, and me, keep our resolutions this year and make 2015 the best year yet!
1. Be Specific
The more vague a resolution is, the easier it will be to procrastinate on and push aside. Instead of promising to exercise more, promise to run a mile three times a week. The more specific your resolution, the easier it will be to fulfill it. For me, instead of just promising to travel more, I want to travel to three new places I’ve never been before, and one of those have to be outside of the country. I’ve decided on Florida, Washington state, and Mexico. Knowing exactly where I want to go helps me look for opportunities that will help me achieve my goal.
2. Automate
It is much easier to fulfill resolutions when the thinking is taken out of it. If you can automate a system to help you achieve your goals, you won’t even realize you’re working until they come to fruition. For people who want to save money, working with the bank to move part of their paycheck into a separate savings account can be a huge help in achieving that goal. I’m going to do something similar to save up for my travel expenses by figuring out how much I’ll need for each trip, breaking that down by month, and pulling that money into a special travel savings account each month.
Timeshares are a great way to regulate travel as well. Because they occur annually or biennially, it is easy for busy owners to set aside time to take advantage of their timeshare. The regulation makes travel an easy task, especially since it takes the planning of finding a place to stay out of the equation.
3. Have an Action Plan
Resolutions start out as ideas, but the first step is turning those concepts into actions. Making deadlines that force you to move can help you reach your goals. For instance, I’m setting deadlines for scheduling flights, hotel rooms, and activities. Having a plan that requires action not only gets me excited about my trips, but helps me break down my big goals into smaller, more achievable pieces.
4. Talk About It
When trying to accomplish big goals or break old habits, it’s helpful to have friends and family that can keep you accountable. Talking about your resolutions with others will not only keep you excited, it will motivate you to accomplish what you’ve set out to do. Don’t be shy when people ask what your resolutions are. In fact, your enthusiasm could motivate others to reach their goals as well.
5. Reward Yourself
Hard work deserves a reward. Set checkpoints as you work toward your goals where you can reward yourself. For example, when I book my flight to Florida, I’ll reward myself with some shopping for beach attire. Or when I get a hotel room in Mexico, I’ll reward myself with a delicious Mexican dinner. These little rewards will help motivate you to continue achieving.
If travel is your New Year’s Resolution, timeshares are a great option. Their specific locations and regulated seasons help you plan your trip and buying a timeshare resale will be a fun conversation starter that will get you excited for all of your upcoming vacations. Whether you want a mountain getaway or a beach holiday, Premier Timeshare Resale has timeshare deals that will make your resolutions come true! Research our timeshares for sale and take the first step toward achieving your goals this year!
