You’ve made your list of New Year’s resolutions—now what? As you go over your list, you realize that it’s hard to take seriously. Some of your goals have even been on your list for the past few years.
It’s easy to feel instantly discouraged after making your list. However, by adjusting the way you create your list, you can succeed. Stop breaking your New Year’s resolution within hours, and stick to it using these steps!
1. Make Realistic, Defined Goals
You’ll never complete your goals if you choose something outlandish. Wanting to make an exuberant amount of money, lose 100 pounds, or become the CEO of your company are amazing goals, but you really have to think about whether they’re realistic. Unfortunately, setting wild goals will make you more likely to fail.
You should set specific goals that you can realistically complete. For example, if your goal is to “become fit,” you should make parameters for this statement—how much weight do you want to lose and what does your end result look like? No matter your goal, make sure to stay practical.
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2. Take Baby Steps
Don’t let your resolutions take over your life. Otherwise, you’ll quickly get burnt out, and won’t want to work towards your goals.
Take your resolutions one step at a time. Want to lose weight? Start by hitting the gym only once or twice per week, and gradually increasing your workout sessions to five days per week. The same goes for quitting a bad habit, learning a new hobby or eating healthy—you can’t force yourself into it.
3. Keep Your List Short
Most people make a huge list of resolutions. The truth is, juggling 15 different resolutions along with your job and family life is nearly impossible. You’ll never get anything done this way, not to mention that it’ll result in tons of self-doubt.
If you do have a long list of resolutions, narrow it down. Choose only one to three goals that you really want to complete.
4. Create a Plan
Without a solid plan, it’s hard to succeed. Create a written plan that outlines how to accomplish your goal. Seeing your plan on paper can help keep you on track, and will also make you feel more confident as you set out to tackle your resolutions.
5. Tell Your Friends and Family
People are sometimes embarrassed to admit their New Year’s resolution, and choose to keep it hidden from friends and family. While you might think your goals are nobody else’s business, reaching out to others can actually help you.
Having a support system can ensure you don’t veer off your path towards success. You might even find out that your loved ones have the same goals as you—if that’s the case, you can help each other meet a shared goal.
6. Don’t Get Yourself Down
Just because you indulged in a cookie when you’re trying to stick to a diet, doesn’t mean you’ve broken your New Year’s resolution. There’s a huge difference between consistently avoiding your plans, and making a mistake every once in a while.
That said, you shouldn’t beat yourself up for any minor setbacks. The important thing is that you keep moving forward after these mistakes.
7. Reward Yourself Often
Finally, don’t forget to give yourself a reward for your hard work—but just make sure that your rewards don’t interfere with your goals. If you’ve managed to make it to the gym three times per week for a month, treat yourself to a movie or dinner at a restaurant.
Your rewards are completely personal. They should drive you to keep going and serve as well-deserved breaks.
A New Year Doesn’t Always Mean a New You
The cliched saying “New Year, new you” doesn’t have to apply to your situation. The real purpose of a New Year’s resolution is to take small steps towards a larger goal. You shouldn’t expect to transform yourself in just one year.
Do you want to work on becoming more talkative in the New Year? Use these tips on how to socialize better to get started.
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