How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions and Make Them Stick

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going — Jim Ryun

Unfortunately, New Year’s resolutions are much easier to make than to keep and many of us find ourselves quickly breaking them and falling back into old habits. To help set you up for success this year, we created a list of tips on how to keep your New Year’s resolutions and make them stick.

1. Believe – If you don’t truly believe that you will succeed, the likelihood is that you won’t.
2. Prepare – Figure out how you are going to achieve your goal and how to deal with temptations and setbacks. That way, when you encounter an obstacle you will be ready to get around it.
3. Be realistic – Don’t set your aim too high. Setting an unattainable goals is one of the most common reasons for failure.
4. Be specific about your goal – The more specific, the better your chances of succeeding. Instead of saying “I want to get into shape”, set a goal to go to the gym or run 4-5 times a week or to lose 10 lbs. by February.
5. Set milestones – If your goal is to lose 100 lbs this year, set monthly or even weekly weight loss goals. This will help keep you motivated and focused throughout the entire year.
6. Make it part of your daily schedule – Just like you schedule work meeting or meals, schedule time to work on your goal.
7. Reward yourself – It is important to celebrate your success by treating yourself to something you enjoy. Just make sure that it doesn’t conflict with the goal you are working so hard at.
8. Track your progress – Find a way to keep track of all of your small milestones. You can simply keep a diary or spreadsheet or find an app to help you track your progress. These days there is an app for everything so there is a good chance you can find one related to your goal. Here’s a list of 7 apps that will keep your New Year’s resolutions alive
9. Find a partner or set up a support system – Having a solid support system definitely increases your chances for success. There will likely be days that you do not want to go to the gym but if you are meeting someone there, you are more likely to go. You can also try joining a group that shares your goals.
10. Setbacks are normal – If you slip from your goal, its OK. No one is perfect and setbacks are going to happen. Just don’t let them derail your goal completely. If you fall, pick yourself up and get back on track.

Remember – changing an old habit or starting a new good habit takes time and determination. You may not see results right away, but that doesn’t mean that what you are doing isn’t working. You have to give it a chance.

We wish you all a happy and healthy New Year filled with inspiration.