Every year we decorate our home for the holidays, sing seasonal tunes, and bundle up by the fire to exchange gifts with loved ones. Before we know it, the new year is upon us, making us think about our New Year’s resolution list. Most of us know how hard it can be to keep a New Year’s resolution, yet we continue to make them every year. This article will help you identify your personal goals and tell you how to keep them.
7 Secrets on How to Keep A New Year’s Resolution
#1 Think of your New Year’s resolution as a shade of gray rather than black or white.
What I mean by this is do not be so hard on yourself. If your personal goal is to lose weight, don’t restrict yourself from all the tasty things in life. Use the 80/20 rule by being healthy 80% of the time while letting loose the other 20%. Doing things in moderation will help you create a more balanced outlook on life.
#2 Set Realistic Goals
Have you ever heard that saying, “slow and steady wins the race?” It is the same concept when setting a realistic New Year’s resolution list. The more achievable your goals are, the more likely you will stick with them. Setting unrealistic goals can hinder your success, making you feel defeated. When we succeed at something, it makes us want to keep going. If one of your personal goals is to take up running as a hobby, do not go and sign up for a marathon tomorrow. It would be more realistic to train for several months before committing to something so demanding.
#3 Choose Resolutions for the Right Purpose
Determine what is important to you, and try to set your New Year’s resolutions for the right reasons. For example, if your personal goal is to lose weight, do it to be healthy and feel good, not to be thinner. If you are trying to lose weight to be skinny, you might be disappointed if it does not happen as fast as you expect. But, if you are losing weight to feel good about yourself, you are more likely to stick with it because everyone wants to feel good, right? The better you feel, the more energy you will have to keep up your New Year’s resolution.
#4 Start Your Personal Goals Before the New Year
It is funny how we start a New Year’s resolution after a late night of partying and drinking. Not many people want to go for a run or eat a salad after partying the night before. So, get a head start on your goals before the year 2022 begins. Putting your resolutions into motion in advance also alleviates the pressure of starting your goals on a specific day. What if you are not feeling good on New Year’s day? Or, what if something unexpected comes up? Think of your New Year’s resolution as a lifestyle rather than a fad. You can make it your lifestyle by making it your new “normal” now.
#5 Don’t Get Down On Yourself
Allow yourself a little slack, and do not give up on your resolution if you had a little cheat treat. No one is perfect, and we are allowed mistakes in life. Mistakes can help us learn and grow into better versions of ourselves. You are your own best friend, so be kind to yourself and give yourself credit for how far you have made it. Boosting your self-esteem can help boost your motivation to succeed, thus keeping up with your New Year’s resolution.
#6 Stay Committed for at Least 21 Days
Experts say it takes about 21 days to form a new habit. You are more likely to stick with your personal goals if you work your resolutions into a weekly routine. Keep this routine for at least three weeks, and it can become your new “normal.” For example, if your personal goal for 2022 is to have a smoothie every morning, commit to it for at least 21 days. Try your best not to skip a day. Once your morning smoothie becomes your routine, it won’t feel right to go a day without it. A great way to ensure you keep your routine is to prepare it the night before. Having a smoothie ready for you in the morning will help you avoid bingeing on an unhealthy alternative.
#7 Pinpoint Your Triggers And Find Ways to Avoid Them
Make a list of all the triggers or impediments that will hinder your success. Now figure out what you can do to avoid these triggers. For example, if you are trying to cut down on drinking alcohol, try to limit your time spent with people who tend to drink often. If work stress causes you to drink, consider finding a less stressful job. If finding another job is not an option, learn to reduce stress through yoga and meditation.
Why Do We Make New Year’s Resolutions?
So why do we make New Year’s resolutions if we often fail to keep them? Setting goals in life gives us hope and helps motivate us to be a better version of ourselves. Never give up, never stop dreaming, and if there is life, there will be an opportunity to succeed at something. Happy holidays!
About the Author: Taleen Keuftedjian is a mental health and wellness enthusiast who coaches others on the importance of whole-body health, which incorporates brain, body, and spirit. She is the author of the recently published book Balance the Bossy Brain – A Personal Experience Guide on Overcoming Anxiety by Healing the Brain, Body, and Spirit as a Whole.
She takes a relatable approach where she uses her personal experiences to help motivate others to live a healthy, happy, anxiety-free life.
Visit Taleen at habitatforwellness.com to learn more about stress reduction, sleeping better, and how dopamine can affect your motivation to achieve goals.
Follow her on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with her health and wellness journey.
Want to read Balance the Bossy Brain? Check out the link above!
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