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New Year’s resolutions are fun ways to set new goals, improve yourself, and make the coming year better than the last. The problem is that most people are eager to make resolutions, but their enthusiasm dwindles when it’s time to keep them. So what’s the secret to making goals that you will be likely to keep this year? Being realistic.
Clarity is Key
Be clear about what you are trying to accomplish. Don’t just say, “I am going to get healthy.” Set a goal that is specific and can be measured, such as I am going to run three miles a week to reach my goal of losing twenty pounds.
Measure Your Progress
Tracking your improvement will not only remind you of where you started, but will motivate you to keep going until you reach your goal. This is also important to show you where your setbacks are, so that you can work to change them.
Be Patient
New Year’s resolutions aren’t meant to be overnight fixes. They will inevitably take time and effort, so be patient with yourself, especially when you aren’t seeing progress as quickly as you would like. Hard work pays off.
Something is Better Than Nothing
Making a little bit of progress is better than not making any progress at all. Even when you can’t devote all of your time or energy to your resolution, it’s better to give what you can than to give up altogether. Some weeks you may only be able to run one mile. That’s ok! The important thing is that you stay on course, and not throw in the towel because you fell short for a time.
Success isn’t a matter of whether you are strong enough to reach your goals, it’s about creating new habits and being persistent enough to keep going when you want to give up. Creating a realistic resolution and then implementing strategies to help you keep it will ensure that you will end the year feeling empowered for sticking with your goal and improving your life, even if it’s just a little.
