Yes, that dreaded time of year is here again. The new year is upon us and many of us make New Year’s Resolutions. I know I’m very good at making resolutions but horrible at keeping them. Here are a few tips to help you keep them this year!
Start small:
One big mistake many of us make is trying to change our whole way of life or diet. Instead, try cutting out only one thing, like Soda for example. It’s easier to feel accomplished when the changes are actually attainable. If you only have a few resolutions, it’s much easier to focus on them so you can achieve them.
Get a Resolution Buddy:
Having a partner to be accountable to will be a big motivator. I know when I visited a nutritionist weekly to help me lose weight, I was successful. Why? I had to show her my food diary and get weighed. I wanted her to see results and that motivated me to keep trying. It’s easy to break a promise to yourself, but far harder to admit it to a friend.
Don’t give up:
If you fall off the “wagon”- just get back on and keep going. If you “cheat” on your diet, don’t give it up, just pick up with the diet at your next meal.
Here is my son with some inspiration for you!
Celebrate all the victories:
Positive reinforcement works wonders. If you accountability partner knows when you have achieved a goal, they would love to celebrate with you.
Be specific:
If you want to start an exercise plan, don’t just say you want to get in shape. Set specific goals- like Exercise 20 minutes daily, run 3 miles, be able to perform 20 push-ups. It’s much easier to measure specific goals than vague ones.
Write it down:
When you write it down, it becomes real. When you write down your goals, you can actually measure your progress. It also allows you to keep track of the good days and bad days. It lets you reflect on how you can improve things for tomorrow.
Schedule time:
We always say we will “find time” to do our New Year’s Resolutions. Honestly, we know that never happens. Schedule time to clean out your closet or garage on your calendar. Treat these New Year Resolution’s appointments just like they were scheduled doctor appointments.
