How to Keep New Year’s Resolutions
With the dawn of a new year, you are likely making plans and resolutions. It’s always a good idea to plan out ways to improve your life and make it happier and healthier, but it can be hard to keep the best-laid intentions when the going gets tough. Here are some ways to keep your new year’s resolutions, without sacrificing your sanity!
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- Get an accountability partner: A friend can really help you keep your goals, especially if they have similar ones. If you are making a fairly generic goal, like saving money or exercising more, it is likely that one of your pals has made similar plans, and you can help each other out by reminding and encouraging. For example, if you have been wanting to run a 5k or exercise, you can sync your phones or fitbit watches/apple watches and check in with each other really easily. If your goal is something else, consider sending encouraging texts or check-ins so you can both stay on track.
- Make a tangible plan: Sure, it sounds nice to run a marathon, or read a ton of books, but if you don’t have a logistical plan, it won’t happen. A good goal is to read a book a month, or run a mile…it doesn’t have to be crazy unrealistic to be effective, and in fact, researchers recommend that you set goals you can actually reach (they can be hard-to-reach because that will inspire you to work towards them). Writing it down is also a great idea, like on your planner, or on your laptop, so that you know what milestones you want to reach.
- Use affirmations: The power of positivity is real, and when things get hard, you will want to have some inspiring words to look back on. Sticky notes on your mirror, dashboard, or computer will be a great way to keep yourself on track. Google “motivational quotes” for some ideas of what to write. It is also a good idea to make your phone wallpaper into a motivational quote, or a photo of your list of goals. Every time you turn it on, you will remember what you set out to do!
- Reward yourself: Each time you reach a milestone in your journey, give yourself a small reward. It doesn’t have to be expensive; it could be as simple as your favorite coffee drink or smoothie, or a new shirt. Rewarding yourself as you go will keep you motivated. You could reward yourself when you hit a certain workout goal, number of books read, or rooms organized in your house….the possibilities are endless! If you are saving money or are making a tighter budget, you could reward yourself with an extra $5 to spend when you reach your savings goals, little by little. It will also keep you from going crazy and from feeling deprived when the rubber meets the road!
