We all have goals we are trying to reach. We have goals at work, ones that we set for ourselves and ones that our company has set for us. We have goals in our personal lives as well. But sometimes, we have trouble making headway toward the goals. We may move forward a little, but then backslide. Or our motivation dwindles. If this is happening to you, here are few ideas from motivational psychologists to help you make progress toward your goals.

1. Be specific.

When you set a goal, avoid vague language like “getting in shape.” You need to be exact about what you want to accomplish. “Run two miles in 20 minutes” is an example of a more exact goal.

2. Don’t wait. Take advantage of the present.

If your goal is to get in better shape, take the stairs if you are at work or take a walk around the block if you have time. Doing these things will help you get to your running two miles goal more quickly. Or, if you have just arrived home from work, don’t wait to go running. Do it now.

3. Keep a record.

You need to keep a record of your progress, otherwise you won’t know what you have accomplished and what you still need to do. Write down what you do. This will also help you to make changes to your efforts if you are not progressing as you would like.

4. Realize nothing comes easy.

Simply put – it’s going to take work. Nothing valuable comes easy. It comes little by little through perseverance. But you knew that.

5. Focus on improvement.

Take pride in every advance you make, no matter how small. You need to realize that improvement comes a little at a time. There are no great leaps, but with persistence, it will come. So, you also should realize not to bite off more than you can chew, which will only demoralize you. If you have to start your quest for two miles with just a run of one-quarter mile, that is fine.

6. Work through obstacles.

You know they will come. There will be obstacles to your progress, and you will toughness to deal with them. Try to think about the obstacles you will encounter and how you will over come them. You can help to build willpower by doing something every day that you would rather not do, something you don’t have to do.

7. Focus on the positive.

In other words, focus your mind on what you are going to do, not on what you won’t do. Our minds perform better that way. For example, think this way, “If it is 6 o’clock, I will go running.”

Why should you work with Winston Resources? The reason is simple – Winston is a staffing expert who works to understand your unique skills and needs, and has vast experience working with New York City businesses. Winston works with companies to place you in the best position, openings ranging from entry level to senior management. We take the time to really understand what your goals are, and then do our best to find opportunities that are right for you. Give Winston a call today – for this position or one of the many others available