If you made a promise to yourself this year to stick to your resolutions, how is it going so far?
It is a time to start afresh, set concrete goals and consider the next steps in your life. This can be a great motivator for people to finally do the things they’ve always wanted to do and commit to taking the necessary actions to achieve those goals. Many of us may have already forgotten some of the promises or goals we set for ourselves as part of our New Year’s resolutions. Even if you’re not fully committed, it’s never too late to start making an effort. Here are tips for Sticking to Your New Year’s Resolutions
Stay Positive
Making changes in your life can be difficult, but focusing on the negative will only discourage you. Try not to think about how tired you’ll feel after a session at the gym, or how stressed you might be if you stopped smoking – believe in your goal and focus on the benefits and effects to yourself. Try to remember constantly. Your life. Focusing on the positive will help you stick to your resolution and make it happen.
Track your Progress
Keep track of each small success. It’s easy to set short-term goals, and each little accomplishment will help keep you motivated. Instead of focusing on everything all together, take it up one by one. Writing down your successes and challenges regularly helps you stay focused on your resolutions. Jotting down thoughts in a journal or keeping a simple spreadsheet of milestones allows you to assess where you are on your journey and adjust your efforts accordingly.
Share your goals
Accountability is the key to making a difference in your life. Sharing your goal with a loved one gives you someone to hold you accountable to, and in turn, someone to share your success with. It’s an invaluable tool to help you stick to your New Year’s resolutions.
Learn from your mistakes
Mistakes are part of the process. But often people think that one mistake means they are doomed to failure. When you make a mistake — like you skip the gym for a week, or you make a ridiculous impulse purchase you can’t go back to — learn from your misstep.
In fact, one study showed that people who were successful at keeping their resolutions relapsed at least 14 times. Most of these successful individuals said that they found ways to turn their mistakes into opportunities to grow stronger and become better.
Slow down and Meditate
It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the New Year and lose sight of why you set resolutions in the first place. People who stick to their resolutions are good at slowing down the pace of life, which allows for greater mental clarity. Meditation is a great tool for slowing down the mind and focusing your attention on just one thing, such as the resolution you are trying to achieve. Take a few deep breaths and make it a point to clear your mind and think about your resolution for at least a few minutes every day.
Practice patience and forgiveness
Even with the best of intentions and motivations, it’s all too common to lose sight of resolutions when life gets busy and your attention is needed elsewhere. Making lasting change takes time, but sometimes all you need is a windfall to make your resolution a reality. During the ups and downs, practice patience and forgiveness with yourself, acknowledging that no one is perfect and that you are on the right track.
Reward Yourself
This doesn’t mean that you can eat an entire box of chocolates if you’re determined to eat a better diet. Instead, celebrate your success by treating yourself to something that doesn’t detract from your resolve. If you stick to your promise to eat better, for example, reward yourself with new fitness clothes or going to a movie with a friend. Not just yourself, keep motivating people around you. For instance you can reward with a happy new year gift for wife, husband, brother, sister or a friend so that they too stick around looking at your dedication.
A setback doesn’t need to be the end
So, you slipped. Your resolution not to drink alcohol but you had one beer today. This should not be the end of your resolution. Learn from this experience. What were you thinking before you made the mistake? Were you tired Stressed? Know what your trigger was and you’ll be better prepared to deal with it the next time a craving strikes.
Happy New Year!
