Creating New Year’s resolutions is a yearly tradition for many who want to get healthier, happier, or explore in their next year of life. However, many of us do not achieve our resolutions, falling short of our goals and leading to another bust. But you can change that. It doesn’t matter what your New Year’s resolution is; try following these six tips to stay on track and reach your goals in the new year.
6. Give Your New Year’s Resolution Time
New Year’s resolutions are not going to immediately blend into your daily routine. On average, it takes around 66 days to form a new habit and stick to it. So, it’s important to be patient with your new goals and slowly integrate them into your daily routine. If you have any setbacks or don’t hit your goal, just pick it up again in the next week. After a while, it will be second nature.
5. Accountability Partners
Many people drop their resolution due to a lack of accountability to stick with it. It’s important to keep yourself accountable, and that can be achieved with friends or family. For instance, a friend can keep your exercise goals on track, or a spouse can help remind you to eat healthier. Building a supportive community around us often leads to positive results.
4. Choose a New Resolution
If possible, try to avoid picking a goal or resolution you’ve tried in the past but failed. By choosing the same thing, you may end up falling into the same routines and obstacles that stopped you the year prior. Instead, try something different that may have a better path to success. Or, if you’re set on a goal, modify it and make it more accessible to accomplish.
3. Don’t Take on Too Much
Grand goals may sound fun to begin with, but they often lead to people getting overwhelmed and quitting. It’s important to start small and set attainable expectations. If you want to lose weight, choose a small but realistic weight loss goal, such as 10 pounds in two months. That way, once you reach the goal, it’s onto the next 5-10 pounds lost, instead of getting frustrated. Starting small can lead to big results.
2. Set Specific Goals
Many people, when asked about their New Year’s resolution, say something to the effect of “exercising more.” But what does that really mean? Are you trying to lose weight? Gain muscle? What kinds of exercise? Instead of leaving lots of question marks, try to be detailed in your resolution. It could be something as simple as exercising 30 minutes a day. This provides a measurable and concrete goal to reach.
1. Stay Positive
Similar to giving your New Year’s resolution time, it’s important to stay positive. It can be difficult breaking up your normal routine, and only focusing on the negatives of that can easily lead to abandoning your resolution. Instead, try not to think about the negatives, such as being sore after the gym or extra stress from not smoking, and instead see the positives. That’s why you’re doing the resolution in the first place — to get to a better place in your life. Focusing on that positive change will help you stick to it and emerge successful.