5 Tips to Achieving Your New Year Resolutions
Named after the Roman god of gates and doors, January is a time of transition and change. We reflect on the conclusion of last year while planning for the future of the next. Caught between regrets and hopes, many people will formulate resolutions as a way to improve their lives. However, studies show that the majority of Americans often fail to achieve their goals by the time the next year rolls around. Here are a few tips to help you successfully adhere to your New Year’s resolutions.
MAKE A PLAN: Think of your goals as meals that have recipes to them. “Exercise more, eat healthier, sleep earlier” are all too vague to follow through on concretely. You need to identify the exact ingredients that will result in the meal you want. “Go to the gym 3 days a week, cook dinner at home on daily basis, be in bed by 12 ” are all much more actionable and direct, increasing the chances that you achieve them.
TRACK YOUR GOALS BY THE MONTH: Break your goals down into monthly assessments rather than yearly ones. This bypasses the “middle problem” which is the idea that motivation is highest during the onset and conclusion of goals but dip significantly during the duration in between. By treating each month as a reset, you’re essentially hacking your motivational system by creating shorter milestones and thus ensuring you stay on track.
FIND ACCOUNTABILITY: Tell trusted friends and family about your resolution and communicate ways in which they can support you, even if that’s just checking in on you at predetermined times. Having someone other than yourself monitor your progress can help you stay accountable and motivated.
STAY FLEXIBLE: Be open to change and don’t be too hard on yourself if you slip up. Life can be unpredictable and it’s okay to adjust your goals or plan as needed as long as you’re 100% clear and accepting of why you’re choosing to do so.
REWARD YOURSELF: Give yourself rewards for meeting your goals, such as buying yourself something you’ve been wanting or taking a day off to do something you enjoy. As long as it isn’t antithetical to the goals you’re trying to achieve, celebrating the measured successes along the way is a key part of maintaining motivation long term.
New Year’s resolutions can be a great way to set and achieve personal goals, but they can also be difficult to stick to. Integrating these practices into your plan can significantly increase your chances of success in the next year.