It’s that time of year again! The time when we reflect on the past year and set resolutions for the year ahead. If you’re like most people, your New Year’s resolutions probably have something to do with improving your health and wellness. But if you’re like most people, you’ve probably also found it challenging to stick to your resolutions in the past.
Don’t worry; you’re not alone. In fact, according to a study by the University of Scranton, only 8% of people achieve their New Year’s resolutions.
So, how can you ensure that you’re part of that 8%? Keep reading for ten tips to help make your new year’s resolution stick!
Table of Contents
Set a realistic goal
Setting unrealistic goals is a surefire way to set yourself up for failure. Before embarking on your journey to a healthier you, it’s essential, to be honest with yourself and set realistic goals that you can actually achieve. For instance, if you want to lose 50 pounds in the next few months, you should break it down into smaller, more achievable goals, such as losing 5 pounds per month.
Or if you want to run a marathon, you should start off with shorter distances, such as 5Ks, and slowly increment the distances until you can comfortably run the entire 26.2 miles. Setting realistic goals and breaking them down into smaller goals makes it easier to stay on track and provides a sense of accomplishment when you reach those milestones.
Make A Plan
Once you’ve set your goals, it’s time to create an actionable plan to help you achieve them. Break down your goals into even tinier ones and develop a step-by-step plan to achieve them. For instance, if you’re planning on exercising more in the coming year, you should have specific days and times when you’ll be working out and what type of workouts you’ll be doing each day. Also, make sure to consider any obstacles that might prevent you from achieving your goals, such as your work or family schedules, and plan to make sure you’re able to stick to your plan.
Find A Support Group
A support group is essential to help you stay on track with your new year’s resolutions. Whether online or in-person, finding a group of like-minded individuals who share similar goals and can provide encouragement and advice can go a long way in helping you stay motivated. A support group can be anything from a weekly meeting at the gym to joining an online forum. It can even be as simple as finding an accountability buddy or forming a small group of friends to check in with every week. The main point is to surround yourself with people who will help keep you motivated and on track.
Set Weekly Reminders
Another great way to stay on track is to set weekly reminders for yourself. This could be anything from setting an alarm reminding you to stick to your healthy eating plan to scheduling weekly calls with your accountability buddy. When developing your reminders, keep them specific, achievable, and timely. Having tangible reminders will help make your goals more realistic and will provide a visual cue that will quickly become part of your routine.
Incentivize Yourself
A great way to stay motivated and on track with your new year’s resolutions is to create a reward system for yourself. Every time you reach a milestone in your journey, take some time to reward yourself. This could be anything from buying yourself a new pair of running shoes to taking yourself out for a nice dinner. Make sure the rewards fit the goal and are meaningful enough to keep you going. And remember: we all deserve a pat on the back every now and then!
Check In With Yourself
Another critical step in achieving your goals is regularly checking in with yourself. Reflection and self-assessment are essential to track your progress and ensure that you stay on track. Take some time each week to review your plan, check in with your goals and adjust your strategy accordingly. Make sure to celebrate your successes and take a step back when needed to stay on the right path.
Make It Public
Making your goals public is another great way to stay on track. Whether posting your goals on social media, telling your friends and family, or even joining a challenge, making your goals public can help you stay motivated and accountable. Having a public audience also provides some friendly competition and adds a layer of support that can help to keep you on track.
Get an Accountability Partner
An accountability partner is someone you can trust to check in with you regularly and ensure that you stay on track with your goals. Besides providing support, an accountability partner is also a great resource to help troubleshoot any problems you may encounter while pursuing your goals. It can even be something as simple as agreeing to check in with a friend on a weekly basis or having someone to share your successes and failures with. Having somebody else to hold us accountable is a great way to stay on track and keep moving toward our new year’s resolutions.
Celebrate Your Success
Make sure to celebrate your successes! Even the smallest victories should be celebrated and rewarded. Taking a few minutes to bask in the glory of your accomplishments will help keep you motivated and make it easier to stay on track. Celebrating your successes is also a great way to remind yourself of the progress you’ve already made and builds excitement for the journey ahead.
Give Yourself Grace
Sticking to your new year’s resolutions can be challenging, but it is not an all-or-nothing approach if you slip up. Get right back on track. It can be done with the right mindset and a plan. When developing your plan, make sure to set realistic goals, make a plan, find a supportive group, set weekly reminders, check in with yourself, make it public, get an accountability partner, and, most importantly, celebrate your success. With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your new year’s resolutions and becoming a part of that 8% of people who actually stick to their new year’s resolutions!
