Many of us spend the end of the year making resolutions and the rest of the new year trying to stay resolved to keeping them. Only 8% of people successfully achieve their resolutions. So here are some tips for making resolutions and more importantly, keeping them!
- Set short-term goals for long-term results – people who break their resolutions into small, manageable chunks typically have more success. Say your goal is to save money. Rather than making a resolution to save $5,000 this year, try to save $100 a week. It’s almost the same amount of money, yet the goal is easier to keep. You’re able to measure your progress along the way and all you have to think about is that $10 each week, not the much scarier sounding amount of $5,000.
- Make your resolution about the journey, not the outcome – there’s a better guarantee of success if you stick to resolutions that you actually have control over. Want to lose 15 pounds? Well, sticking to a healthy diet and exercise routine is more important that the number on the scale. And you can’t force those pounds off. So, stick to a resolution modeled like this: “I will go to the gym three days a week and I will fill half my plate with fruits and vegetables at every meal.” These are things you have control over and they will help you reach your ultimate goal of weight loss.
- Schedule time for your resolution – we are all so busy, it’s hard to find time to do things we want to do , let alone the resolutions that challenge us. Schedule a gym session into your calendar just like you would a meeting. You can even set an alert that goes off 30 minutes before going to the gym. Sometimes the extra reminder if just the push you’ll need to get out the door.
- Employ the buddy system – everything is better with a friend, including resolutions. And it can be ore than just a walking buddy – want to save money on groceries? Make it a challenge. Plan meals around the store ad, clip coupons and then compare receipts and see who saved the highest percentage.
- State your goals – tell people about your resolutions. People who explicitly state their goals are more likely to keep them. It’s social accountability. And with social media at your fingertips, it’s possible to tell a whole bunch of people.
- Keep records – tracking your progress is a good way to stay accountable and keep the resolution fresh in your mind. Want to read more? Set a goal of the number of books you want to read this year and keep tabs on the number toward your total goal.
- Get an app – there is an app that can help with almost every resolution.
- Celebrate the little victories – you deserve it! Just make sure the rewards you choose don’t work against your goal. Think of a way you can treat yourself like taking a long, relaxing bubble bath every week you reach your saving’s goal. It’s a positive reward that will actually help make a healthier, happier you.
- Reassess your resolutions – if something is not working, then it’s OK to go back and modify your resolution. Resolutions are all about becoming a better version of yourself, not a perfect version of yourself. If you’re not able to save $100 a week, oh well! Knock it down some and keep trying.
- Don’t give up so easily – too often people throw in the towel on resolutions because of one slip up. So what, you had a moment of weakness and ate a box of donuts. It happens! If weight loss were that easy, it wouldn’t be the number one resolution, year after year. Often, we use small slip-ups as an excuse to give up on big goals. Forgive yourself, move on and keep trying.
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