When January 1st rolls around, you have all of these plans for your New Year’s Resolutions and you tell yourself that this year is going to be the year that you stick to them. Then it’s second week of January and you’ve barely gotten to the gym to work on those fitness resolutions. We get it. It’s tough to keep your New Year’s Resolutions. So here’s 8 tips for keeping them!
1. Start Small
Adjust your resolutions to what you think you can keep. Is one to be more active? Try to go to the gym 3-4 times a week rather than every day. Is another to eat healthier? Try eating fruit instead of dessert. Don’t get overwhelmed.
2. Stick with One Resolution.
You might have too many resolutions. So instead of trying to do so many different things, make it easier on yourself by just sticking to one main goal. It can have different parts to it, but one resolution would make a greater impact than a bunch of different big goals.
3. Visualize Your Success.
You have to really believe that you can accomplish your resolution, that you’re going to do it. Imagine yourself going to the gym, or putting down the cigarette or candy. The more you visualize yourself making these changes, the more likely it will be that you will actually do it.
4. Make Your Goal Public
Everyone is on social media these days, broadcasting their lives for everyone to see. Why not use that so that your friends and followers hold you to your resolution? They can offer support and encouragement when you need it.
5. Track Your Progress
This goes hand in hand with making your goal public. Try using a journal or chart to track your behavior.
6. Don’t Give Up When Things Go Bad.
Take this bit of advice from Teen Vogue :
““Plan for relapses,” Johnson told us. “Between starting and solidifying a habit, there are lapses. That is okay, normal, and expected.” That’s especially true if you’re trying to make a really major change in your life; as Dave Popple, psychologist and president of Psynet Group, tells us, “The habits that got us in our current states have created strong neural pathways in our brains. Creating the new behavior necessary to keep a resolution is the equivalent of making a new trail through the woods.”
The important thing is not to let a relapse totally derail you. “Don’t let great be the enemy of good,” Mathews said. “If you miss your 11 p.m. goal [to go to sleep], but you’re in bed ready for sleep by 11:30 p.m., that is still a lot better than 1:30 a.m.! If you’re making progress, you’re on the right track.” A few slip-ups here and there don’t mean you need to give up. Be kind to yourself, and just make a plan for when things get off-track so you’re prepared to hop right back on.”
7. Reward Yourself
Celebrate your successes! No, we’re not talking about eating an entire box of chocolates after your resolution is to eat a better diet, but do something to treat yourself! Just make sure it doesn’t go against your resolution.
8. Keep Trying
It’s hard to keep a resolution, but don’t give up completely! Start over and recommit for another 24 hours. 24 hours will become 48 hours and so on and so forth — then you’ll be right back on track.
It’s already good that you’ve made a resolution or two! Just make sure you stick to it! You’ve got this.
