Everybody is familiar with the statistics by now and most people quickly give up on their New Year’s resolutions. According to Business Insider, nearly 80 percent of people break their resolutions by the end of January each and every year. But you don’t have to be a statistic.
Be a rebel, break apart from the crowd, and stick to your resolutions with these five simple strategies:
- Make Realistic Resolutions
Don’t put insurmountable pressure on yourself by setting a goal that’s just not attainable. It’s certainly admirable to set lofty expectations for yourself but you also need to keep your own reality in mind. Resolving on Jan. 1 to lose 50 pounds by April 1 or vowing to get married by the end of the year even though you’re currently single, will likely guarantee that you’ll fall short. Do yourself a favor by setting realistic resolutions and goals that you could actually achieve.
2. Help Yourself
Do what makes it easier for you to keep your resolutions on track. For example, if your goal is to adopt a healthier lifestyle, quit purchasing junk food, and discard any unhealthy ingredients you have in your kitchen cabinets.
If your resolution is to stop wasting time on social media, remove the apps from your phone and plan alternative activities to keep yourself occupied. Do whatever will help you reach your objective.
3. Split your Goal into Segments
Major goals can feel overwhelming when viewed as a whole. But you can make significant goals achievable by breaking them down into smaller steps. Small steps will definitely make it easier to keep yourself on track.
For instance, if your goal is to make a career change so you can follow your more creative passions, write out the specific steps needed to get there. Those steps may include things like saving up a certain amount of money to serve as a nest egg, acquire necessary training, connect, or reconnect with people in your network, and so on.
Reward yourself whenever you finish up with one of the steps. And be proud that you’re one step closer to your main goal!
4. Celebrate Victories
As long as we’re on the subject of rewards, keeping your resolutions will be far easier if you understand you’ll receive something in return for being committed.
Perhaps your resolution is to save money by making your own coffee rather than stopping in at your local coffee shop every day. You should allow yourself an infrequent treat at the coffee shop once a month or once a week. This will help keep you motivated, especially when you struggle with your end goal.
5. Be Accountable
Establish a system of accountability that will help to keep you going. This could include teaming up with somebody willing to remind you to hit the gym or to take the time you need for self-care.
Or it could be posting on social media about your progress every day, so you have built-in cheerleaders. Whatever resolution you choose to set, be sure you’re not attempting to reach your goal in a vacuum, all on your own. Other people can make sure to help you if you slip-up or veer off track and can lift you up when you need encouragement.
It’s far too easy to give up when you’re failing to keep your resolutions. If you want to make permanent changes, understand that you’ll certainly experience slip-ups along the way. Acknowledge your mistakes, then get yourself back on track to meet these challenges with peace and grace.
