Want to actually stick to your new year’s resolutions this time?
January is coming to an end and you might think it’s a little too late to be talking about new year’s resolutions – but hey! It isn’t over yet so you can still make those resolutions – and hopefully I can help you make them stay around past February.
As Jan 1 approaches everyone starts to think about what they can do to make this new year their best year yet. Everyone gets enthusiastic to take that next step and open or expand their business, or lose those 30 pounds. Basically everyone feels confident that this will be the year that it actually happens. But seriously – how often does it actually happen?
Studies have shown that only 8% of Americans actually keep up with their resolutions by the end of the year. By February only 55% of the people that made resolutions were still keeping them. Basically, most people don’t actually stick to their resolutions. It has to do with the “fresh-start effect”. People feel that there is a new start, sort of a “clean slate” and want to make a fresh start – hence the name.
Our society is all about instant gratification – thru online ordering anything can be at our door in as little as a few hours. We can find any piece of information in seconds using the world wide web. Because of this we are ready to give up after the first few weeks of effort don’t show us the results we are looking for. If we really are going to lose those 30 pounds it’s gonna take work, time and lots of patience. Make sure to http://www.livingthebeautiful.com/index.php/2024/01/08/what-i-learned-from-last-year-and-how-i-grew-finan to see where you could use some improvement.
So! If you want to stick to your resolutions this January here are the some tips:
#1 Make a Serious Plan
Take out a notebook or your phone and figure out a system that works for you and that you know will work. Sticking to our example of losing weight, make a meal plan and a schedule to go to the gym. Also check if you have all the ingredients to make those meals. Make it fit to your life and if that requires a schedule go for it.
#2 Keep the Resolutions Real
So don’t pick 5 different resolutions! Maybe two and make sure you can do it. If we actually want to get somewhere we need to be real about it. No one can set 5 big goals and go from 0 to 100 on Jan 1 and keep it up till March 1 – much less Dec 31. We’re only human and pretty limited. Once the novelty and drive of the new year wear off, we find ourselves pretty much the same people we were 3 weeks ago. The “new year new me” stuff is just a cute and very unrealistic saying that likes to pop up around this time.
#3 Keep yourself accountable
To get somewhere with your resolutions, make sure that you stick to those little goals you set for yourself. Scientists say that when we promise ourselves something and follow up on it we grow in our own estimation of ourselves. We have more confidence and trust in ourselves. But also reward yourself if you do well! Once you lose ten pounds, or if you stick to your meal plan for a month, go out to eat! Your brain likes rewards and it gives you something to look forward to.
#4 Remember Jan 1 is just a date
You can make changes anytime! The fresh-start effect is why everyone chooses to make these changes at the start of the new year but they can be made anytime. If you get discouraged and have been falling off the wagon, remember that every day is a fresh start and it’s the little changes that will make the big difference.
