A new year is a new start and we all strive for self-improvement. Whether it’s to lose weight, eat healthier, spend less money or invest more time with loved ones, our resolutions seem to be high on our list of priorities in January and fall to the wayside by March. Here are 6 ways to increase your odds of success:
1. Make small, attainable goals
Make your resolution one that is manageable to obtain and almost seems “easy” to start. Then once it becomes a habit, build from there. For example, if your goal is to exercise more, don’t promise to hit the gym seven days a week. Instead, start with three days a week of activities you enjoy. After a few months, reevaluate if you want to step things up a notch.
2. Get specific
Rather than a vague resolution to eat healthier, get specific about what you want to accomplish and set a clear intention on how to achieve it. If you want to eat more fresh, plant-based foods and less junk, try implementing these three steps: 1) start each morning with an easy and healthy breakfast you won’t get bored with, like oatmeal with berries and nuts, 2) each night take 15 minutes to pack a healthy lunch for work the next day, and 3) commit to grocery shopping once or twice a week to prep for the week so you don’t revert to your old habits.
3. Find an accountability buddy or group
To accomplish your goals, it’s much easier when you have a good support system. Find a friend or family member who has a similar resolution. This way you can rely on each other for accountability and support while making memories and accomplishing goals. Having someone to support you through your struggles and successes will make your good intentions much more likely to stick.
4. Safeguard your environment
Your environment becomes crucial in terms of helping or hindering your healthy living intentions. If you’re motivated to lose weight then make healthy foods easily accessible throughout your kitchen and workplace, it’s more likely you will eat them first. Remove the junk and then you won’t feel inclined to reach for it. Once you start seeing results, you won’t want the junk food to return.
5. Make it personal
In addition to what you want to accomplish, think about why it’s important to you. For example, losing weight to improve your self-confidence is a personal motivation as opposed to losing weight because someone made a negative comment about your appearance. Write down you’re your goals after you’ve determined your inner motivation. This will not only inspire you but make yourself more committed to seeing the finish line.
6. Don’t strive for perfection
Perfection is unattainable…shoot for good. Creating a new habit takes at least 21 days and baby steps are the way to get there. You will have ups and downs; resolve to recover from your mistakes and get back on track. The reality is most people overestimate what they can accomplish in a day and underestimate what they can accomplish in a year. Celebrate the smallest steps taken to an overall new and improved you!
