Tips for keeping your New Year’s Resolutions

I can’t believe there are just a few days left in 2017! If you’re anything like me, you’re probably already thinking about setting some New Year’s resolutions.  Did you know that only about 10% of people keep their resolutions, and 30% of people don’t even make it past the first month? Here are a few tips on how to make your goal-setting less stressful and more inspiring:

• Choose the right resolution: In order to increase your chances in keeping your resolution, make sure it’s the right one! When brainstorming resolutions, first ask yourself, “Is this a goal that truly matters to me? Am I making it for the right reason, or is this something society is telling me to change?” You are more likely to keep the goal with your internal willpower rather than external influences. Also, make your resolutions specific, not vague. For example, instead of saying, “I want to lose weight” make your resolution more clear by saying, “I want to lose 2 pounds per month.”

• Make a plan: Once you have thought of your resolution, the next important step is to make a realistic plan for achieving it. Think about when, where and how you will work towards achieving your goals. Also, plan what you will do when you encounter obstacles along the way. Be flexible with your plan. If going to the gym in the morning is more difficult than you anticipated, due to making the rest of the morning more rushed, change your plan and move your workout to the evening.

• Start small: Give yourself enough time to work on you resolution with several smaller goals along the way. Creating small goals that end up helping achieve a larger resolution down the road not only helps you feel as if your resolutions are within your grasp, but also allows you to build upon a solid foundation going forward. Make a list of small steps you can take to make larger goals a reality

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• Make habits: Habits form through repetition of the same behavior in response to the same cue. The more we execute a habitual behavior, the easier it becomes. To help with forming habits, be mindful and view actions in an unbiased way. Don’t associate behaviors (like going to the gym or flossing) with negative thoughts. If you give these actions an unbiased second chance, you may associate them with good or neutral thoughts.

• Remove temptations: Set yourself up for success and remove temptations from your life. For example, if you’re trying to lose weight, it’s better to avoid buying unhealthy foods in the first place than to have them around and expect you’ll be able to resist them. This includes people too! If you are trying to quit smoking but have a group of friends who smoke, let them know about your personal goal and refrain spending time with them while they are smoking. Have a response prepared when people try to influence you to join them.

• Keep track of your progress: Keep a journal or calendar where you can log positive habits you did each day. Take photos of your progress. Tracking your progress with a visual aid can motivate you to keep up the good work.

• Get an accountability partner: People are stronger when they work together. Make your goal known to a friend to keep you accountable. Find a partner that can support you when you are doing well and pick you back up when you fall off track. Discuss your journey with them to keep things in perspective as you move forward.

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• Check yourself: Plan a monthly check up to keep an eye on your progress and get back on track. Reevaluate your resolutions, focus on what goals have been achievable, and what goals may require a change of approach. If you fail, don’t beat yourself up. You can start again at any time, and you don’t need to wait for the next calendar year to give it another shot.