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New Years resolutions can at times seem ineffective and daunting but studies in the past have proven just making these resolutions are helpful. To help ease the stress, I personally like to take the entire month of January to think about my resolutions and reset. I use the first half of January to get over my post holiday blues and recharge to start the New Year. Then I focus on my resolutions and the upcoming year in the last two weeks of the month.
With that being said, it is never too late to make a New Years Resolution! Just making resolutions can help give yourself a fresh start and a clear picture of what you want to work on. It challenges you and it is a huge step towards positive change.
1. Write it down
Being able to see your goals daily or weekly can be a tremendous help. Writing it down makes goals concrete and being able to visualize the goal everyday as a reminder can be a great help as well. I recommend writing them down and posting it at your desk or your mirror. Another great tip that I have used in the past is adding these goals to my home screen on my phone. Iphone has a great Daily Reminder widget that you can customize to remind you of your goals.
2. Make realistic goals
Goals can be daunting when they seem impossible and out of reach. Instead, break down your bigger goals into smaller goals. A resolution that is without a doubt always on my list is drink more water. Instead of writing, drink a lot of water, I write down, drink 2 cups of water a day. Breaking it down and specifying your goal will help you take small steps towards the overall bigger goal. Creating realistic goals is a key factor in achieving your goals and understanding that not all resolutions will necessarily be met at the end of the year. Some resolutions will be carried over to the next year and that is totally okay too!
3. Track your progress
Progress is not linear. Having a cheat day or a rest day does not mean you won’t reach your goals. There are many different ways to track your progress such as a journal or a habit tracking app. Tracking your progress will definitely help you motivate yourself to continue a streak and it will be great to see how far you have come!
4. Talk about it with someone who will keep you accountable
Talking about it is always helpful. Tell someone you feel comfortable with about your goals so they can help you keep accountability. Be sure to tell someone you speak with regularly and trust. Don't feel the need to tell them all your personal goals but just ones that you feel comfortable sharing.
Don’t let the daunting thought of a resolution keep you from growing. Make this year about you and prioritize positive change! It can be scary at first but at the end of the year it will all be worth it.
If you are unsure where to start I have attached a New Years Resolution template below. It breaks down the different aspects of life so that you can organize your goals accordingly. Feel free to customize to your preferences, it is a simple but effective tool!
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