Research suggests that approximately half of all Americans make New Year’s resolutions yet only 8% actually achieve them. Here’s how you can join this elite few and follow through on your plan for the new year:
Dream Big One Change at a Time
Ambitious goals are compelling, so pick one ultimate overall goal that you have for the new year. Be sure to ask yourself why you chose this goal and how this will improve your life. It’s hard for people to keep one resolution for more than a few days, so don’t set yourself up for failure by vowing to change everything on a list at once. Focus on one change at a time, and stick to it. Your resolutions don’t have to start on January 1. Take control of one habit, and then move on to another.
Break Dream Into Small Steps
Think about what small steps you can take to move toward your ultimate goal. Unhealthy behaviors develop over the course of time; therefore, replacing unhealthy behaviors with healthy ones requires time. Being able to complete just one tiny step can build your confidence to tackle and succeed at more difficult tasks.
Commit Yourself
Make yourself accountable through a verbal or written promise to people you don’t want to let down. Writing out your goals makes more of an impact than just thinking about them. It requires an extra step, and will likely help you keep your eyes on the prize. You can even go the extra mile and tell someone else about your goals so that they can help you along the way. Having a support group will add encouragement and motivation.
Don’t Beat Yourself Up
Perfection is unattainable. It’s okay and normal to make minor missteps when reaching your goals. Don’t give up completely because you ate a brownie or skipped the gym for a week. Everyone has ups and downs – resolve to recover from your mistakes and get back on track. Stop “all or nothing” thinking; it’s better to do something than nothing.
Celebrate Each Success
Don’t forget to celebrate your success – even the small ones! Think of each change as a small win that help you build healthier and more positive habits to reach your bigger lifestyle goals.
It’s not the extent of the change that matters, but rather the act of recognizing that lifestyle change is important and working toward it, one step at a time. Keep these tips in mind as you work toward your resolution and you can join the elite 8% who will be celebrating their success later in the year!
Sources
- https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/seven-steps-for-making-your-new-years-resolutions-stick
- https://wellness.asu.edu/blog/setting-new-years-resolutions%E2%80%94and-sticking-them