With New Year’s fast approaching many people are already thinking about making resolutions. New Year’s resolutions are promises we make to ourselves to improve areas of our life we might have been unhappy with in the previous year. From losing weight to quitting smoking, from finding a better job to finally organizing the house, people all over the world make all kinds of new resolutions at the start of each New Year. We do this because the start of a new year symbolizes a new beginning, a clean slate, a second chance. However, despite the fact that most people make resolutions, fewer and fewer actually stick to them. Many people never even get started on trying. So today I offer you some advice on ways to help you stick to those resolutions this year!
Be honest with yourself and realistic with your expectations. Do not make New Year’s resolutions that you know you cannot achieve. Keep in mind your schedule, your motivation, your ability, and any other life factors that might get in the way. For example, instead of resolving to work out for one hour every single day, resolve to work out for one hour just 3 days a week. This is more likely to fit into your schedule and it’s still a healthy addition to your life.
Don’t make more resolutions than you can handle. Achieving on one good resolution is better than failing at five. So, instead of overloading yourself with habits to break and hobbies to take up, pick one thing that is most important to you and focus all of your efforts there.
Tell people your New Year’s resolution. If you keep your resolution a secret it is too easy to fail. Telling everyone you know what you are trying to achieve will give you a great support group of people to cheer you on, encourage you, and help hold you accountable when you are giving in to the temptation to quit or to cheat.
Keep track of how you are doing. When you start your resolution, create a journal or blog to chronicle the journey. Write down your thoughts, feelings, actions, and whether or not you are sticking to it day by day. This will help keep you focused and motivated. It can also serve as a tool to help you identify triggers that make you more susceptible to slipping or quitting. And, once you know those triggers you can work on eliminating them.
Make a plan to reward yourself for small and large accomplishments. It’s much easier to stick with a course of work if you celebrate your progress and victories. For example, if your New Year’s resolution is to lose 50 pounds, make a list of ways to reward yourself for each 10 pounds you lose and then a big reward when you achieve 50. Just don’t do it with food… never reward your progress by allowing yourself to have what you are trying to give up. Perhaps each ten pounds lost you can buy one new outfit and when you lose all 50 pounds you can reward yourself with a whole new wardrobe!
