While every year brings challenges and changes, one thing remains the same-resolutions. Millions of people around the world make at least one or two New Year’s resolutions in the hopes things will change for the better. Most revolve around better health and finances. We bet that you might have once made one of the following ten resolutions, as these are the most common:
• Lose weight
• Exercise more
• Learn something new
• Spend less and save more
• Travel more
• Become more organized
• Quit smoking
• Live a better life
• Read more
• Spend quality time with friends and family
While the first couple of weeks are the best time for resolutions to stick, many people find that they start slacking off by the end of January. In fact, studies have shown that more than half of those who make a resolution for the new year will fail to keep up with it after the first couple of weeks go by.
If you are someone who enjoys making resolutions, what can you do to make sure that you always follow through with them? Check out the following three steps that can help you stick to your goals throughout the month of January and on.
1. Get prepared mentally
Don’t wait until January 1st to think about your goal. If you want to make a change in yourself, you have to start mentally preparing for the task. To start, think about the past year and what you have accomplished. If your resolution focuses on something you want to improve, don’t forget to congratulate yourself on the times you did see some progress in the past year! You may not want to make a big change the minute the clock strikes midnight. Instead, make smaller changes that give you a little room for error. Stay positive. As you ease your way towards your goal, build on the smaller changes you have made so far.
2. Motivate yourself
You should never want to change for someone other than yourself. For example, wanting to look as thin as your co-worker shouldn’t be your end game when you want to lose weight. Instead, remind yourself that eating less and working out will make you live a longer, healthier life. Look inwards as to why you want to achieve your goal. Your motivation should always center on making yourself a better person in the end. Your resolutions should also reflect your most important priorities in life.
3. Limit your resolutions
One very common mistake we often make is writing out a list of a dozen or more resolutions. Sure, we all want to get rid of four bad habits, learn two new languages, volunteer more, and travel once a month, but is it really realistic? There is only so much time and energy that can be spent on our goals, so pushing yourself to follow a bunch of resolutions may only cause you to give up in frustration. Instead, come up with just a few goals that you know you can keep track of over the next year. Prioritize and proceed for the best results!
