Lose weight, go to the gym, eat less junk food, drink more water, call my parents once a week, read more… these are all wonderful goals to strive for as we start out the new year. And frequently we come out of the gate with grand intentions of making life in the year ahead better. Usually, however, the everyday obligations of daily life get in the way, and a few weeks into the year, we find ourselves right back in the same place we began. In fact, 45% of Americans claim to make New Year’s resolutions, with only 8% of Americans reporting to have achieved success. If you’ve found yourself in a bit of a resolution rut, follow these tips to get back on track.
Cast the Rearview Mirror to the Side
On your way to achieving your goal(s), you will likely encounter a setback or two. Don’t lose hope. And don’t give up. Whether it’s something you’ve eaten that you said you weren’t going to or you’ve fallen back into an old habit that you vowed to break; one slip up (or even a few) is not a reason to give up on your goal. You can do it. Tomorrow is a brand new day to start fresh. Continue to look forward and cast that rearview mirror to the side.
Find Strength in Numbers
When working toward a goal, the likelihood of success rises when you’ve got a great support system behind you. If your resolution was to lose weight, get an accountability partner who will go to the gym with you, share meal planning ideas with you, and encourage you along the way. If your resolution was to live a healthier lifestyle, get involved in bike riding groups, or a yoga class, or find a friend who loves to cook and ask for tips. When you surround yourself with people who understand your passion for making a change, who may even be able to mentor you, you will find strength (and success) in numbers.
Take Note
A great way to keep in step with your goals is by checking in multiple times throughout the day. With fitness tracker apps, watches, and wearables, technology has made it simple and convenient to keep tabs on your steps, calories, heart rate, breathing, and more. Set achievable goals for yourself each day and work your way up. By taking note along the way, either with a simple glance, or through entering each meal consumed into your fitness tracker app, you will have a much higher success rate of staying true to the goal you set out to achieve.
Get Real
Do you want to lose 30 pounds? Setting out to lose ten pounds in your first week at the gym after the New Year will inevitably end in failure or defeat. However, setting out to lose two pounds is a much more attainable goal. Do you want to quit smoking? Perhaps try cutting down to start your journey to a nicotine-free lifestyle. Consistent small wins will lead to big achievements. Get real with yourself about the resolutions you’ve made, and then devise a plan to bring you one step closer to making it happen.
Celebrate Each Day
Some days you will rock that resolution, and some days you will feel like you’ve hit rock bottom. Committing to a lifestyle change, ditching a bad habit, or mending that broken relationship takes a lot of work – but guess what, making the decision to even do it in the first place is the best step in the right direction you can take. Celebrate your wins each day and give yourself some grace for the losses.
The New Year is a great time to reevaluate where your energy, money, and passion are focused. If you’ve decided to commit to a goal, keep your eyes on the road ahead, surround yourself with people who care about your success, keep track of your progress, set small, achievable goals, and celebrate all that you’re doing along the way! You can do this!
References:
New Years Resolution Statistics. (2016, December 11). Statistic Brain. Retrieved from http://www.statisticbrain.com/new-years-resolution-statistics/
