It’s that time of year again……New Year’s Resolution time!
Perhaps it’s the over-indulgence from holiday parties and family meals, or the idea of a fresh start that makes us want to change our habits. However, the dream of change and new beginnings can slip away almost as soon as the resolutions are made. In fact, according to businessinsider.com less than 10% of people actually achieve their goals and 25% quit within their first week! Those are tough statistics but there are proven ways to help you stick to your New Year’s Resolutions!
Be Reasonable, Be Specific-
Vagueness can sabotage a goal faster than anything! Pick a resolution and be specific about it. Let’s use one of the most popular goals as an example; weight loss. Instead of thinking “I want to lose weight” pick a precise number and a precise date. Making the goal to lose 35 pounds by December 2020 is a good plan, but better yet, and for easy accountability, making the goal to lose 5 pounds per month in 2020 is even better! The more laid out the resolution, the easier it is to track progress. Concrete goals make them attainable!
Change your surroundings-
Old habits are hard to break! The chance of failure increases by not making relevant changes to your everyday surroundings. If quitting smoking is the goal, then avoid the people and places associated with it. Fill that time up with new, distracting activities like taking a quick walk outside, or snacking on something healthy. If weight loss is the goal, make small, daily changes in your decision making process. Avoid old eating places where you would be unlikely to choose a healthier option. If saving money is the goal, remove shopping apps from your phone, and open a separate savings account to break the spending habit. Out of sight is out of mind. Avoiding those triggers and replacing them with people, places and activities will help you stick to your goal!
If you fall off track, forgive yourself…..then get right back on track-
We are all human, setbacks are bound to happen. The important thing to remember is to keep on keeping on! It’s important because missing a goal by 10% or even 50% is not complete failure as long as you finish the task. A moment of weakness in the grand scheme of things is meaningless, just keep looking at the finish line. Keep your eyes on the prize with constant self-checks and positive reinforcements.
New Year’s Resolutions are to be taken in stride. They are fun to make, hard to keep, but worth it in the end. Celebrate the little successes along the way and by this time next year you will have accomplished something to be proud of!
