New year, new you? Maybe that’s what you’re thinking right now as the clock ticks down to midnight on December 31st and you resolve to get healthier in 2023. Most people make resolutions to lose weight or eat better, but it can be hard to stick with those changes over time. Here are some tips to keep your New Year’s resolution so it lasts this time around!
Set Realistic and Achievable Goals
Setting realistic and achievable goals is one of the most important aspects of achieving success with your New Year’s resolutions. The purpose of setting these goals is not just to motivate you but also to help you stay on track. If you set high, unrealistic goals, then what happens when you don’t meet them? You feel like a failure and lose motivation. It is best to start off small with something that seems doable such as walking more each day or eating healthier. These smaller changes will have an effect on your body and mind without being too difficult or time-consuming. Make sure that whatever goal you are trying to achieve, it aligns well with other aspects of your life such as family commitments or work obligations.
Create a Support System
The most important thing you can do is find a support system. This could be your family, friends, co-workers, or even online forums and social media groups. Whatever it is that works best for you, make sure to keep them close and lean on them when the going gets tough. For example, if one of your resolutions is to lose weight, a good accountability partner would be someone who has lost weight themselves. They will understand what you’re going through and will give you advice and support throughout the process.
Write Down Your Goals
Make sure you write down your goals. Writing down goals is proven to increase success rates. It will help you set a clear, realistic goal, and will make it easier to track your progress. Set a date in the future as the deadline for achieving your resolution. For example, if you want to lose 30 pounds, set February 1 as the date that you’ll lose 5 lbs towards your goal and so on with the total weight loss date being 6 months from now. If at any point along the way you feel like giving up on your resolution don’t! Just recommit and pick up where you left off.
Hold Yourself Accountable
A big part of keeping any New Year’s resolutions is holding yourself accountable. I’ve found the best way to do this is to make a plan and then share it with friends, family, or coworkers. This way you’ll have people who will check in on you and ask how things are going. Plus, if you set realistic goals that are achievable, it will feel great when they’re accomplished!
Celebrate Your Successes
Strive to achieve small goals and recognize your success. This can be as simple as taking five deep breaths, relaxing with a movie or rewarding yourself with a chocolate kiss when you reach your first goal. It is important to celebrate your successes because it gives you something to look forward to and makes discipline worth it. Showing up every day and doing what is hard, even if there are no visible results on that day, will make all of your hard work worthwhile.
Now make this new year count!
Here are a few more tips to help you stay on track with your resolutions this year. Reevaluate your goals every month, and don’t be afraid to change them. Stay positive and have patience with yourself. Talk to a coach if you need more help staying motivated. Last but not least, enjoy the journey! Life is a journey and health is a process. Be grateful in every moment because you are worth it!