What are your goals for the rest of 2014?

Happy second half of 2014!

Wow, where did the past six months go?

It seems like only yesterday that we were singing Auld Lang Syne with Jools Holland and having a quiet day to deal with hangovers – or in my case running up and down Box Hill wearing a caveman costume, in a gale.

Since then I’ve run a marathon and two ultra marathons, filmed 15 interviews for the feature-length documentary I’m directing and even found the time to start horse riding.

But time passes quickly when you’re working hard and/or having fun.

Failed resolutions

You probably started the year with resolutions about wanting to lose weight, get more exercise or take control of your personal finances.

Around 40% of us set these goals at the start of each year. Only a tiny number of these goals are ever realised; around 8% according to research in the US.

The start of a the second half of the year is a great opportunity to reassess any goals you set for 1st January, check your progress and then make a fresh start as necessary.

Personally, I find goal setting at the start of July easier than at the start of January; the weather is nicer and the days are longer, which encourages easier activity for health and fitness related goals.

How can you set goals which stick for the rest of 2014?

It’s important to keep the goal simple and well defined.

“I want to lose some weight” is a pretty simple goal, but it is destined for failure in comparison to “I will lose 20lbs over the next 20 weeks by eating food only in its natural state and getting a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise each day.”

Sharing goals often helps them succeed.

Sharing your intentions with friends, family and colleagues helps keep you accountable. Better yet, recruit one good friend to check your progress on a weekly basis and make a note in your diary to post a progress update on Twitter or Facebook at regular intervals.

Baby steps

I think it’s important when setting goals to establish smaller, interim goals. These help you stay focused and on track for success.

When I decided I wanted to run a 50 mile ultra marathon, I picked a series of shorter races in the build-up to this which would give me experience and also confidence to succeed.

Part of this build up included running a 50km ultra marathon and then the Brighton Marathon only a fortnight later, on tired legs. This gave me a training boost but also the confidence I needed to know I could persevere and complete 50 miles.

Mr Motivator

Find some good motivation.

When I lost 70lbs in nine months, I was constantly scouring the web for sources of motivation and inspiration. If weight loss or fitness is your goal, YouTube is full of inspiring stories about ordinary people achieving incredible goals.

Most importantly, review your goals on a regular basis.

It’s wrong to expect goals to remain static over time, as we make progress or our circumstances change.

Just like a Financial Plan, which requires an annual review to keep it on track, your personal or business goals need a regular update.

Tell us your goals

As we head into the second half of the year, what are your goals for the rest of 2014?

Use the comments box below or tell us on Twitter @informedchoice.

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