It’s a new year, which means a new you, right?
We’re kidding.
However, the celebration of a new year is a great time for some self-reflection. Ask yourself, what do you want to achieve in 2024? How can you make this year more enjoyable for yourself? Is there anything you want to leave behind in 2023?
Here’s the thing, many people agree that New Year’s resolutions are easy to make, but harder to keep.
Even after reflecting on the specific things you want to achieve, you might find yourself losing motivation rather quickly. We’re here to make the “keeping” part of your New Year’s resolution a reality.
Here are four tips that can help you stick with your goals throughout all of 2024:
Start small
Although you’re probably excited, it’s important you don’t overcommit yourself. Let’s say your goal is to start exercising more, the last thing you want to do is tell yourself you’re going to start hitting the gym every single day. This will leave you feeling burnt out and frustrated when something comes up and you simply can’t get a workout completed one day. Instead, try setting a smaller, more attainable goal with flexibility.
Example:
Try not to say, “In the new year, my goal is to work out every single day.”
Try saying this instead, “In the new year, my goal is to prioritize physical activity and it’s okay if that looks different every day.”
As your resolution slowly turns into a habit, you can start being more specific and intense with how this looks in your daily life. But, in the beginning stages, starting small is a good idea.
Stay positive
It’s easy to be positive when you feel motivated and see progress. However, how you feel when that momentum slows down is much more important. When you’re feeling sluggish or uninspired, allow yourself to rest. Pushing yourself through a bad mood or low energy might make you feel more irritable or make you question why you even made a New Year’s resolution in the first place. Don’t get discouraged. Instead, practice positive self-talk and allow yourself to fully relax, physically and mentally. After a good rest, you will likely get back on track.
Write it down
Did you know that you are more likely to complete a task after writing it down? Instead of storing it in your head, try writing down your resolution and a plan of action to go with it. Some questions to consider are: when will I work toward this resolution? How will I work toward it? And, most importantly, why is achieving this resolution important to me?
Example – Let’s use the resolution from tip #1 and add a plan of action…
RESOLUTION:
“In the new year, my goal is to prioritize physical activity and it’s okay if that looks different every day.”
PLAN OF ACTION:
When? “I will do some form of exercise before or after work, depending on how busy my day is.”
Where? “I will go to the gym or complete an at-home workout, depending on whichever is more convenient that day.”
Why? “I am prioritizing physical activity because it boosts my confidence, makes me feel accomplished, and improves my overall health and wellbeing.”
Writing down a plan of action will not only increase the likelihood of completing your goal, but also help inspire you when motivation gets low.
Pick a resolution you’ve never done before
You might be thinking about giving the resolution you made last year another shot. While this may be tempting, it’s better to avoid picking a past resolution and focus on a new one. By doing this, you won’t be reminded of the ways you lost motivation in the past. Instead, a brand-new resolution will help you stay motivated and follow your plan of action. Your new resolution doesn’t have to be entirely unique from past ones. It could still be in the same category, just not exactly what you wanted to achieve last year.
Example –
If your resolution last year was to eat healthier, then this year, get more specific. You could limit your sugar intake or cut out red meat. Not only are these new resolutions, but they are specific and make it easier to know exactly what “eating healthier” entails.
See? The “keeping” part of the resolution doesn’t have to be so hard after all. By using these four tips, we think you’ll have no problem sticking with your resolution and completing your goals in 2024.
