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Tips for Making Your New Year’s Resolution Stick

After wrapping up another holiday season, the new year is finally upon us. As you contemplate what you want the next year to look like, you might be tempted to make a new year’s resolution or two. In previous years, maybe you haven’t been very successful in keeping your resolution past the first few days or weeks of the new year. Here are some tips to help you make your New Year’s resolution stick! 

making your New Year's resolution stick

Be specific. 

Let’s talk about a common new year’s resolution—losing weight. In order to up your chances of achieving this goal, you really need to drill down on it. How many pounds would you like to lose? What is the time frame in which you want to meet your goal? What are the specific actions you will need to take to reach your goal?

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Here is an example. “I would like to lose 20 pounds in six months. I will reach this goal by going to the gym at least 4 days per week and eliminating soda from my diet.” This is much more specific than a generic goal of “I want to lose weight.” 

Make goals realistic. 

There is nothing that can make you ditch a resolution faster than realizing your goal is unattainable. Being ready to run a marathon after only a few weeks of training? Probably not going to happen. It’s great to have a big goal in mind, but make sure you allow yourself a realistic timetable in which to accomplish it. 

Find an accountability partner. 

When you have to report your progress to someone else, you are more likely to stick to whatever your goal is. If you can find an accountability partner that is working toward your same goal, that is even better! But even if you are working towards different goals, you can still help each other stay motivated.  

Do away with all or nothing thinking.

No matter what changes you are trying to make, there will probably be days that just don’t go well. No one is perfect after all! Maybe your goal was to run 3 miles each week and you only ended up running once.

That doesn’t mean you should just completely give up! Just get back at it the next week. Every day is a new chance for a fresh start, and every positive step you take towards your goal is a step in the right direction.  

making your New Year's resolution stick

Focus on one goal at a time. 

It might be tempting to make a list of things you are going to try to conquer all at once. But you will probably have a better chance of achieving your goal if you tackle them one at a time. You  can then devote more focus and energy to the goal at hand instead of spreading yourself too thin. 

Reward yourself.

For completing your ultimate goal, choose something that is highly motivating. But don’t just reward yourself when you reach the final destination, reward yourself along the way as well. Set mini-goals that will lead you to achieving your big goal and when you reach one of those, celebrate with a little reward. You deserve it! 

I hope these tips will help you stick to your new year’s resolutions this year, whatever they may be. Happy New Year! 

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