How to Set Realistic New Year’s Resolutions and Stick to Them
January 1st is a time when millions of people make a pledge. This pledge typically involves some sort of life change they’d like to make heading into the new year. Some of the more popular New Year’s resolutions involve establishing a healthier diet and exercise routine or cutting back financially.
While these are great goals, oftentimes motivation to maintain them fizzles within the first few months of the new year. This could be largely due to the fact that we’re setting unattainable or unrealistic resolutions. Keep reading for ways in which you can stick to your 2019 resolution and maybe even carry it out for years to come.
Start small
If you want to set a goal and achieve it, the best thing to do is start small and work your way up. For example, if you’re someone who has never stepped foot in a gym, but your goal is to run a marathon, you’ve got to start with the basics. A great way to work up to this is to start walking. Once you’ve built up enough endurance, start jogging, then running. In today’s technology-based world, there are downloadable apps like Couch to 5k that help coach and condition you. Crushing small milestones along the way to your ultimate goal will also keep you motivated.
Do it for you
Some like to kick the new year off with the ever popular slogan, “New Year, New Me,” which is a great outlook to have as long as the right reasons are behind it. If you’re setting a goal with someone else in mind, chances are it was never really an improvement you wanted to make in the first place. Focus on investing in yourself and remember you don’t have to make drastic changes to feel good. For example, if you’ve spent some time feeling self-conscious about your thinning hair, invest in a product designed to keep your locks healthy and strong. If you’ve been feeling down about your style, take yourself on a mini shopping spree. Every fashion forward wardrobe starts with a solid pair of underwear, from there the possibilities are endless!
Ask for help
Like any big life change, setting a goal at the start of the new and sticking to it is bound to bring up some bumps in the road. In cases like these, don’t be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help. Seeking support from a friend or family member can help keep you on track and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. They can provide you with words of motivation that may not always be what you want to hear, but what you need to hear to remain on your journey. If you’re the kind of person who looks to accountability, consider asking your good friend or significant other to join in on your goal. This way, you’ll both be working towards the same end result and can help keep one another on track.