At some point in your life, you've probably thought about making a New Year's resolution. You probably even started a few, only to falter after a few months.
This year, why not try something different? Make keeping your resolution the resolution! It's easier said than done, but here are some quick, easy-to-follow tips to help make your New Year's resolutions stick.
Make a "pros" and "cons" list
Making a big, positive change in your life can seem like a good idea, but since you'll be dedicating a lot of your time to it, why not think about making a pros and cons list of resolutions you are thinking about making for the New Year?
If there are more pros than cons, the resolution is probably a safe bet!
Have a buddy
Do you have friends that have similar goals as you? In this case, it could help to try and work on a New Year's resolution together, or they could be your support system.
If your goal is to go to the gym more often, you could plan times to go together or keep each other up to date on your gym efforts.
Pick a resolution for the right reason
You may have various goals you want to achieve, but it's essential to ensure the New Year's resolution you choose is what you need now in your life.
Your resolution should be relevant to you and not because someone told you to or because you're trying to be like someone else. You need to know why you choose a specific resolution and how it will help you in the upcoming year.
Document your progress
Sometimes when you're in the middle of making changes in your life, it's hard to see what's changing.
Since you can't look outside your own life, document the changes you're making and the progress you see. Seeing your thoughts throughout the process also helps you to see what's working for you and what changes you need to make.
Choose a specific goal with specific outcomes
Vagueness is no way to achieve your goals. It's one thing to say you'd like to spend less time on your phone, but not specifying how much time leaves room for interpretation and you'll end up not following through.
Be very specific with what you want, and even break it down into steps. For example, you may want to limit your usage of one social media app to just one hour a day, slowly increasing that number throughout the year.
Choose one resolution
Sometimes we make New Year's resolutions like adding things to a shopping cart. It would be fantastic if we could say what we wanted and it would come true.
Because change takes time and requires a lot of effort, putting all your eggs in one basket is unnecessary. You'll lose focus and achieve nothing by hyper-focusing on too many resolutions. Limit yourself to what you can do now with what you have available.
Do your research and make a plan
If your New Year's resolution is to work out more, start researching the recommended exercise for your skillset, especially if you're a beginner.
For example, you may only be able to jog for fifteen minutes, but if your goal is to have the stamina to jog for an hour, the correct information will teach you how to slowly train your body and ensure you don't injure yourself.
Start with small doable steps
If you can't even lift five pounds, why start with ten? There's no need to overexert yourself to prove something to yourself.
Be gentle with yourself, and work with your current skills and ability until you're ready for the next thing. Appreciate the subtle changes that appear in your life instead of forcing them!
Avoid past mistakes
If you tend to make New Year's resolutions knowing you're not nearly motivated enough to achieve them, stop doing this!
Be honest with yourself to admit that maybe it isn't the right time for you. Or you're not ready to change your schedule or patient enough to try. There's nothing wrong with admitting your mistakes to avoid unnecessary stress in the new year.
Keep in mind that change is a process
Do you remember where you were five years ago? Ten years ago? You've been changing throughout your life, and you're still changing! Change is one of life's constants. Why would making significant changes in your life be any different?
To appreciate where you're going, take stock of where you've been, and you'll learn to appreciate the rewarding process of changing your life.
Consider your budget
Your upcoming New Year's resolution may be to travel more, but fulfilling that dream may put you at odds financially. But that doesn't mean you must keep your goals on hold forever.
Instead, you can adjust your goals to traveling locally to nearby places you've never considered visiting. There's always something you can do to get as close as possible to achieving your dreams without breaking the bank.
Learn how to adapt
Unexpected changes and interruptions are a part of life, but you can't let them stop you from your goals. Perhaps you need to cut back on expenses which means no gym membership. You can adapt by working out at home.
No matter what appears to get in your way, there is always a way around it. It may take longer to reach your goal, but you'll still get there if you're determined.
Make time for your goals
New habits and lifestyle changes aren't going to happen in your life unless you let them. Everyone is busy and has obligations that require their attention, but by scheduling time for your resolutions, you'll tell yourself, "hey, this is important too."
It can mean allowing yourself 15 minutes to an hour of exercise for a certain number of days and slowly increasing that number until you get the desired results.
Celebrate every small success
When you're putting in the work to make significant changes in your life, don't just celebrate the big successes. Celebrate the small ones too.
Even if you're celebrating one week of practicing a new habit or working out for 15 minutes for three days, celebrating every step in the right direction makes the overall journey more enjoyable.
Choose a resolution that suits you
While you may have a specific New Year's resolution in mind, it may not be suitable for you, depending on your lifestyle, what's vital for you right now, and how much effort you're willing to exert.
Instead, choose a goal that aligns with your values and that you can incorporate into your life without completely overhauling who you are.
Let the public know
Sharing your goals with your following may help you focus on them since you've got an audience anticipating your results.
Even if you keep your daily routine private, sharing your successes can motivate and inspire others to do the same. So why not share the positivity and keep yourself focused by making your resolutions public?
Have a reasonable time frame
It's natural to want noticeable results fast. Otherwise, it's hard to tell if all your hard work is worth it. But this mindset will only set you up for failure.
Instead, give yourself a reasonable timeframe, with room for setbacks or unexpected changes to your routine. Allow yourself time to learn new habits to see fundamental changes.
Identify obstacles before beginning
If you know you've been making the same New Year's resolution with no changes, it's time to look at what's keeping you from making the right changes.
Maybe you're not factoring in how many other obligations are keeping you from focusing on working out more. Perhaps you expect sudden results and lose motivation when you don't see changes. Address these issues before starting to give yourself room to grow.
Set reminders for yourself
When you're busy with the regular ups and downs and life, you may lose focus or forget to keep yourself on track to achieving your goals.
Don't be afraid to leave reminders for yourself to make little changes that lead to significant results. It's not cheating, and when you're especially busy or tired, it can be just enough of a little push to get you back on track.
Start when you're actually ready
As much as you dream of making significant changes in your life, it's much harder to make those changes a reality when you're not ready, and this can lead to disappointment and failure.
Some signs that you're ready for change include feeling restless or stuck where you are. You may wait for a signal from the universe to start making moves.
Remind yourself how happy you'll be in the future
Remember when you made your resolutions? You imagined a happier, healthier future and living the kind of life you always wanted.
While making changes in your life, reflect on what motivated you to make those changes. You had a picture in mind of what you'd look like, so keep that at the forefront of your mind, especially when you're struggling.
Use the right words when talking about your resolution
How you talk about your resolution reinforces how seriously you'll take it. If you downplay your goals, or your ability to achieve them, your negative self-talk will keep you from making changes.
Speak about your resolutions affirmatively. Instead of saying, "I hope I can work out more next year," it's more affirming to say, "I'm working on working out at least one day a week next year."
Experiment with different approaches
Whatever your New Year's resolution is, there isn't one path that works for everyone. Don't be afraid to experiment with different approaches to see what works best for you.
For example, it may help you write down your goals in a journal, or you might prefer to use an app with daily reminders. Whatever your method, don't be afraid to try something new that could make your life better.
Practice gratitude
Practicing gratitude is a great way to refocus on the big picture, helping you appreciate the little joys in life and not take things for granted.
Being able to choose a new year's resolution is something to feel grateful for because you live a life where you can consciously make changes for the better. Practice gratitude and appreciate the gifts you already have.
Add new habits to existing ones
When trying to make significant changes, it's unrealistic to assume you'll be able to make a complete 360 in changing your routine from one day to the next. Instead, start by stacking new habits with existing ones so you gradually become used to having them in your life.
For example, if you want to start meditating, you can begin your first few sessions right after brushing your teeth at night.
Don't be afraid to tweak your resolution
Sometimes you choose a New Year's resolution with high hopes that you'll be able to achieve it precisely the way you pictured. But soon, real-life commitments and obstacles keep you from having picture-perfect success.
When this happens, don't be afraid to make minor tweaks to your resolution, like working out four or three times a week instead of five.
Don't feel guilty
It's normal not to have the kind of progress you want or to find yourself in a slump. But rather than beat yourself up about it, acknowledge your lack of progress, and set your mind towards the future.
Letting yourself stew in guilt accomplishes nothing. Instead, take a proactive approach to discover what went wrong and how to avoid it from happening again.
Don't only rely on others
While it is essential to have people around you to keep you accountable, at the same time, you shouldn't overly rely on others to make sure you get things done.
Overly relying on others can cause you to doubt your abilities, and it won't teach you how to hold yourself accountable. Your friends can help you feel less alone, but they can't achieve your goals for you.
Keep the momentum going
You know that feeling when you're knocking out work effortlessly? That's called momentum, and as soon as you start building momentum in achieving your new year's resolutions, you've got to learn how to keep it going.
An excellent way to do this is by looking at the most straightforward tasks you can do to achieve your goals. Keeping a positive mindset will also motivate you to keep going.
Believe in yourself
Before making any significant changes in your routine, you first need to believe that you're capable of accomplishing what you set your mind to and that you can see yourself taking all the necessary steps to achieve whatever you want.
It's one thing to imagine changing, and it's another thing to know that you've got what it takes to see it through.
