New Year’s resolutions always sound great when you make them, but more often than not, they fizzle out much sooner than anticipated. In fact, a mere 8% of us manage to stick to our resolutions throughout the year.1
So how do we become one of them?
Set specific and manageable goals
Say you want to lose weight. How much weight do you aim at shedding? Set yourself a clear, measurable goal, and make sure it’s attainable. Setting unachievable goals would only make the process more painful than enjoyable, and would likely discourage you from persevering. Breaking down resolutions into smaller mini-goals would help.
Telling everybody
The more people you tell about your resolution, the more often you’d be asked about your process, so the more motivated you’d be.
Seek support
Look for support from family and friends. Say you want to quit smoking. Ask them not to smoke in front of you as it could be tempting. You might even want to invite them to join you. Organized support groups are also a great source of help and inspiration.2
Go easy on yourself
Should you miss a target occasionally, let it go. Focus on the bigger picture. Don’t let a small misstep be the reason why you give up your resolution completely.
Remember, the good thing about New Year’s resolutions is, even if you fail to achieve them this year, there’s always next year!
Sources
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/01/23/14-ways-to-keep-sticking-to-your-new-years-resolution/#4be453395931
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2018/01/31/how-do-you-stick-to-your-new-years-resolutions/#40df22116583
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