5 Tips to Help You Keep Your New Year’s Resolution
We all start the New Year with the best intentions. We’re going to workout more, eat healthier or maybe take that trip we’ve been planning. But be honest…the motivation you had January 1st usually disappears before spring break. That’s why we’ve come up with this list of 5 tips to help you keep your resolution this year.
Baby Steps
Trying to completely overhaul your life in one day is setting yourself up to fail. If your resolution means big changes, break it up! Let’s say you’re determined to lose those love handles. If you take away all the foods you love AND try to run a marathon you may be biting off more than you can chew, which means it’ll be that much harder to reach your goal. Start small. Make a list of the steps it will take to get you to your end goal and change a little bit at a time.
Make Time For Change
You made the decision, now make time to do it! We’re all way too busy already, so finding time for something else can be tricky. Stick it on your calendar and pretend it’s a meeting you can’t miss. Schedule gym time, even set an alert on your phone to remind you to get off the couch and workout! That way you can’t give yourself the “I just don’t have enough time” excuse.
Celebrate the Small Stuff
If you try to wait until the end to pat yourself on the back, you’re not giving yourself enough credit for the little wins that all add up to success. Giving yourself little rewards along the way can help keep you motivated. Mini goals are a great way to make it to the finish line. Lose the first five pounds? Buy yourself some cute new workout gear!
Bring in a Buddy
There’s a reason it’s called the buddy system. Having someone working with you to achieve a goal is a great way to stay motivated. You can encourage each other to stay on track or even have a little friendly competition! See who can save the most money each week by bringing lunch to work. If you aren’t feeling the gym tonight and you know your friend will end up with more steps than you, it might get your moving.
Write it Out
Who doesn’t love checking things off a list? If you keep track of your progress it’ll hold you accountable and keep what you’re working towards fresh in your mind. Not a fan of doing things old-school? Keep track on your phone, or find an app that’ll help you stay on track. We found this Forbes article about 10 Ways Your Smartphone Can Help You Keep New Year’s Resolutions.
If you’re into resolutions this year, it’s up to you to set a realistic goal and stick to it. There’s no point in taking the time to make a resolution if you aren’t going to follow through! Use these tips to make your New Year’s resolution a reality.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/10-ways-to-make-your-new-years-resolutions-stick?page=2
http://www.forbes.com/sites/houzz/2015/01/01/11-easy-ways-to-keep-your-new-years-resolutions/