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As we enter the midpoint of 2016, it’s time to look back at those goals we set for ourselves in January. Congratulations if you achieved one or two of them – you go, girl! But let’s be honest, most of us lost track of our goals around February.

Let’s not wait until next year to follow through with our plans. Let’s start them now! Not only will it benefit us professionally, but personally as well. To ensure that you stay on track, here are a few tips to master the art of following through:

1 CREATE A VISION BOARD.

Vision boards are a great way to get started on the journey to reach your goals. Create a list of what you want to achieve (whether short-term or long-term), then pin each goal to your board in your room or even at the office (or both). It might help if you add a little color to really make it pop and catch your attention each morning. For some, it will be beneficial to add some inspirational quotes to give that extra push to keep following through on your goals each and every day.

Your vision board will help you visualize your goals, and according to Psychology Today, “Brain studies now reveal that thoughts produce the same mental instructions as actions.”

In the process of creating your vision board, it is important to analyze the things you might have to sacrifice to meet your goals. Whether it’s missing out on girls night from time to time or giving up some of your weekend mornings, understanding what it will take to get there is an important component right off the bat.

2 MANAGE YOUR TIME.

Time management is key in following through. Many of us have the standard form of it down: Wake up, go to work, eat, sleep etc. However, go the extra mile. Manage your time to a “T.”  Make sure you have that extra hour or even 30 minutes in your day to work toward your goals.

3 MAKE A PLANNER.

Planners are not old-fashioned – they go hand-in-hand with effective time management and are probably the best way to keep track of your day-to-day activities. According to Entrepreneur, “You should take the first 30 minutes of every day to plan your day.” Using your planner for this will allow you to physically see what you should be doing with your time and keep you from using the excuse of, “I forgot.”  Don’t be afraid to write your tasks out in detail. Doing so will allow you to make sure you are making proper use of the extra time you have in your day to work on your goals without wasting office time, family time, etc. In this case, structure is a great tool for following through.

4 STAY POSITIVE.

Perhaps the most important tip of all? Leave yourself positive reminders. We often throw our goals to the side simply because they are not a “necessity” in our lives. However, we wrote them down for a reason; doesn’t that mean they’re important to us? If you’re feeling like giving up, grab a post-it note and write down some positives reminders. How will your goals benefit you in the long run? Why was it something you wanted to do in the first place? If you achieve it, how will it bring you happiness, good health, and/or self-satisfaction? Take those post-it notes and stick them everywhere. They are your motivation!

Don’t worry, we have all struggled with achieving our goals, but now it’s time to stop putting them off and time to start following through. It’s important to finish what you started for yourself and those around you. It can open your eyes to the success you can achieve if you stay on track, and when you do achieve that success, you’ll have another notch of confidence in your belt, letting you move on to your next goal!

Edited by Ellena Kilgallon
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