Setting New Year's Resolutions That Are Actually Productive

New Year's resolutions are something people either love or hate. Some find them to be helpful and motivating, while others think you're just setting yourself up for failure. My opinion lies somewhere in the middle.

However, I have some New Year's resolution tips for you guys that I think will help you set goals that are productive and achievable, instead of seeming overwhelming.

I think the key is in setting resolutions that are realistic. For example, if I resolved to gain 300,000 followers on Inside Caroline's Closet throughout 2018 that would most definitely be very overzealous and pretty unlikely. Most of the time when resolutions or goals seem too big or out of reach to ever actually happen, it's because we're looking too much at the big picture or end result and not enough at the small, but necessary, steps to get us there.

Personally, every time I've gained 1,000 followers on Inside Caroline's Closet, I've congratulated myself. I check it off my goal list, host a giveaway for you guys, and look forward to the next thousand. Thinking ahead in increments of 1,000 followers is so much easier and less overwhelming than if I was to only think about how I'd love to get to 500,000 or 1,000,000 some day. Right now that's just very far off and unrealistic.

This same rule can apply in all of your lives. When setting a resolution, bigger isn't always better. Give yourself some credit and set goals that you actually believe you can achieve within a year. For example, if you want to resolve to lose a lot of weight, maybe start with smaller goals like resolving to work out three times a week and breaking unhealthy eating habits. This keeps us from feeling like our goals are completely unattainable and giving up on them by March.

I follow the blogger Marianna Hewitt and she posted printable worksheets that have helped me so much with setting goals. You can access them here.

I recommend printing them, filling them out, and keeping them in your room, on your desk, or even hanging them up. The idea of her worksheet is to write your main, biggest goal as number 10. Then fill in 9 smaller goals that you need to complete in order to get there.

She also created a sheet called "More of This/ Less of That." You list what you want to do more of and less of. For example, less procrastinating and more productivity. Less saying yes to everything, and more putting my foot down and saying no. And so on. It's great for anyone trying to brainstorm the habits they want to keep and those they want to change.

Take these next few days until the new year to think about what you want to improve on, what you want to change, and what goals you want to and can achieve.

I hope I've given you guys some helpful tips and tricks for New Year's Resolutions. I love hearing from you so let me know your thoughts! Do you agree? Disagree? Are you going to try these worksheets?

If you don't already, follow me on Instagram @insidecarolinecloset.

Have an amazing weekend and a champagne-filled New Year!

Caroline xo