How To Make (And Keep) New Year’s Resolutions
The end of one year and beginning of another is the perfect time to turn a new page. Enter: the New Year’s resolution.
Believe it or not, but New Year’s resolutions have actually been around for thousands of years. The ancient Babylonians are said to have started the tradition some 4,000 years ago - it’s like they say, you learn something new every day!
It just goes to show we’ve been doing this for a very long time! You’d think we’d be experts at it by now, but as we all know, resolutions are much easier to make than keep. By the end of March, many of us have abandoned our goals and settled back into our old ways - about 80% of us, in fact!
Part of the problem may be that we don’t actually know how to keep New Year’s resolutions, despite our good intentions. That’s why we’ve put together some tips to maximise your chances of achieving your goals.
1. CHOOSE A SPECIFIC GOAL
One of the reasons so many people struggle to keep their New Year’s resolutions is because their goals are too vague.
If your goal is to lose weight, rather than saying ‘I want to lose weight’, think about how much weight you want to lose and across what time period. Choosing a concrete, achievable goal gives you the opportunity to plan exactly how you’re going to accomplish (and stick) to your goal over the course of the year.
2. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS
This may seem obvious if your goal is a fitness or weight-loss related one, but it’s also important if you’re trying to cut back on something, too. Logging your progress into a journal or app or making notes on your phone can reinforce what progress you’ve made. This allows you to see - and celebrate - the milestones that you’ve already hit.
Celebrating your own successes is so important, as positive emotions can help maintain your motivation and boost your mental wellbeing too!
3. SET GOALS THAT ARE REALISTIC & ACHIEVABLE
This doesn’t mean that you can’t push yourself or have big goals, but taking on too much too quickly is a recipe for disaster. Starting an unsustainably restrictive diet, overdoing it at the gym, or radically changing your normal behaviour are guaranteed to derail your plans. Instead, focus on taking smaller steps that will ultimately help you reach your larger goal. Achieving even one small goal can boost your belief in yourself!
4. SET A GOAL THAT IS RELEVANT TO YOU
One of the major pitfalls of New Year’s resolutions is choosing a resolution based on what someone else (or even society) is telling you to change, as opposed to what you want to change.
When setting your goal, ask yourself if this is a goal that really matters to you, and are you making it for the right reasons? Making New Year’s resolutions actually requires some proper planning and thought. Find activities that come naturally, are enjoyable and provide value for you. This will help you stay consistent and make your goal feel less of a chore.
5. BE PATIENT
Setting goals that are realistic is important as setting a realistic timeline toward reaching your goals. That means giving yourself enough time to do it with lots of smaller, intermediate goals set up along the way.
Understand that working toward your goal is a process. Even if you make a misstep or two, you can restart and continue on your journey. It may take longer than you had hoped, but remember this is not a race. Once you’ve pledged to change a behaviour, it may well be something that you continue to work on for the rest of your life.
Sometimes, the difference between success and failure is simply choosing the right goal and the process you follow to go about achieving it.
Remember to be kind and flexible with yourself and, if necessary, don’t be afraid to reach out for support. Having a solid support system can help you stay motivated and accountable.
Most importantly, don’t give up! By March, you may find that you’ve lost that initial spark that you had in January. Keep that inspiration alive by continuing to work on your goals and bouncing back from setbacks - resilience is key! It’s not just the end goal that matters, it’s the journey along the way.