With the new year comes great aspirations for change. Many people make New Year’s resolutions with the best intentions, but unfortunately, many also lose track of them by the time February rolls around. Perhaps your goal is to save more money. Maybe you want to increase your exercise, reduce stress, or get more organized. Whatever your resolutions are, the key is sticking to them, and that is easier said than done, especially if you have a busy schedule or find yourself slipping back into old habits.
Willpower is one thing, but success isn’t dependent on this alone. You need to have clear goals, implement the right strategies, and be ready to adjust. Following are four tips for sticking to your New Year’s resolutions next year.
Start with a Specific Goal
You need to have a specific goal to hold yourself accountable. Generalizations make it easier to slide back into old habits. For example, if your goal is to “be healthier,” that’s very vague. Instead, try setting a certain amount of time each day for exercise or walking a certain distance.
Additionally, it can be a mistake to set too many resolutions at once. If you’re simultaneously trying to improve your finances, increase your fitness, and improve your eating habits all in January, you may find that you fail at all these goals. Try to choose one goal that is the most important now, and then once you master that, you can shift your focus. Clear goals are easier to track and make it easier to create accountability.
Think Small
Don’t make your goal too large. Big goals often fail because they are too overwhelming. For example, if your goal is to “save for retirement” or lose 20 pounds, you may be setting yourself up for failure. While these are certainly good long-term goals, you may become disillusioned if you don’t make enough progress in a short amount of time. Set micro-steps to make goals more achievable. If you want to declutter your home, start with one drawer. If you want to improve your credit, start by paying the bill on time. If you want to reduce your screen time, start by taking a 20-minute break each day.
"Small steps move you forward to your ultimate goal. Look for surefire bets," says Harvard Medical School.* "Just getting to first base can build your confidence to tackle and succeed at more difficult tasks. Don’t disdain easy choices. If you start every plan with 'Make list,' you’re guaranteed to check one box off quickly. That’s no joke: a study on loyalty programs that aim to motivate
consumers found giving people two free punches on a frequent-buyer card
encouraged repeat business. So, break hard jobs down into smaller line items,
and enjoy breezing through the easy tasks first."
Make a Plan
It’s much easier to work toward any goal if you have a plan. Figure out what you want and then determine how to get there.
"If you start working toward a goal without any type of plan in place, you may quickly find yourself giving up when faced with any sort of obstacle, setback, or
resistance," says Kendra Cherry at VeryWell Mind.** "For example, if your goal is to run three times per week, what will you do if you’ve missed four days in a row, and how will you proceed if you need to take time off for an illness or injury? You can start by writing down your goal, making a list of things you might do to achieve that goal, and noting any obstacles that might stand in your way. By knowing exactly what you want to accomplish and the difficulties you might face, you’ll be better prepared to stick to your resolution and overcome anything that might sidetrack you."
Build Routines
In addition to a solid plan, try to build routines that can help you implement it. A routine will help you not rely on willpower alone, especially when you become busy, stressed out, or tired. Routines can be powerful because when something becomes part of your regular schedule, you don’t have to think twice about it. You just do it. If you’re trying to improve fitness, for example, make your workout at the same time each day as part of a routine. Go for a walk each day after lunch. If you want to save money, automate transfers to a savings account. If you want to eat healthier, meal prep each Sunday to prepare for the week ahead. Routines can become habits, so if you have good, healthy routines in place, you will find your goals easier to achieve.
With a clear goal, a plan that includes small, manageable steps, and a routine, your New Year’s resolution might just stick next year. Consider using apps and devices to help you stay on track. Also, anticipate setbacks, but don’t be discouraged by them. If you fall off, get right back to your plan. There’s no reason you can’t get back on track.
** https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-keep-your-new-years-resolutions-2795719