Now that January is well underway, I’m curious to know if you’ve meet any hurdles as far as your New Years Resolutions go?
We’ve all done it, made a New Years Resolution and broken it a few days into the New Year. It’s easy to do, especially when we aren’t serious about making a change.
However if you’re serious but still find yourself struggling to form a new habit or break an old one, all is not lost.
It isn’t too late to renew your commitment to self and your resolve for positive change.
The key is to understand what it takes to stick to a resolution and then learn how to follow through.
Keeping resolutions can be tough especially if it involves breaking an old habit. That said I do have some helpful techniques and ideas I’ve found work for me.
Don’t self-sabotage. Throwing in the towel simply because you didn’t take your family members into consideration is a cop out. What I mean by this is, don’t blame others for your failure or use them as an excuse to quit. Just because you want to limit junk food from your diet shouldn’t mean the whole family has to stop eating potato chips cold turkey. Or just because you want to get up an hour earlier each day to mediate or workout shouldn’t mean your spouse has to have an alarm clock blaring in his ear prior to when he wants to get up. Find a compromise, e.g. turn the alarm clock down and put it on your side of the bed.
Be realistic. If your resolution isn’t realistic you may need to revise it. If you’ve set an unattainable goal you will always fall short. However if you strive for a goal that is attainable, you have a better chance of achieving it. For instance, it would be better to resolve to eat healthier by limiting (and slowly reducing) your intake of processed foods on a daily basis rather then trying to cut out all processed foods altogether.
Take things one day at a time. Every day presents a new opportunity. Taken one step at a time, each day will find you closer to a positive new routine. By day 21, you should be well on your way to establishing a new habit and/or having successfully broken a bad one.
Understand the impact of small decisions. Each day we are faced with mini choices that may seem insignificant alone but can have big consequences. It is the small choices we make, and repeat on regular basis that will move us forward toward our goal or will sabotage it.
Make liberal use of post-it notes. Post your resolutions front and centre e.g. on your fridge, cell, computer screen, and bathroom mirror.
Keep motivated with a “pro” and “con” list. Putting your thoughts on paper is a great way to keep your motivation strong. A pro and con list can be an effective way to keep focused on what you want to achieve and why.
Be flexible. By acknowledging that some things are beyond our control e.g. our child gets sick with the flu and we can’t make it to the gym and adapting the best we can under the circumstances (take a few extra runs up and down the stairs or do some sit ups) will help keep you on track.
Don’t keep your resolution a secret. Sharing your resolution(s) with others will make you more accountable.
Find a buddy. Maintain your momentum with the buddy system.
Track your progress. Set short-term goals and keep a journal of your accomplishments.
Reward yourself. Acknowledge your accomplishments with rewards.
Don’t beat yourself up. You’re human. The occasional slip up isn’t the end of the world. Don’t obsess over a slip up, instead get back on track and move forward.
