Do you find that every year, you make New Year's resolutions only to fail within the first month? You're not alone.
Only 25% of people stick with their resolutions past 30 days of the New Year, and only 8% of people accomplish what they resolve to do.
Even though 80% of resolutions fail by February, that doesn't mean we shouldn't keep trying.
It's all about knowing how to make New Year's resolutions work. There are some essential tips and tricks that will set you up for success in determining how you'll start fresh this coming New Year.
Do you want to learn how to set goals that will stick? Keep reading to learn how to make sure your resolutions last throughout the year.
Stick to Clear Goals
Many resolutions tend to be vague and broad.
For example, someone might resolve to "get into shape." Getting into shape means something different for everyone. Plus, it might mean something different for an individual one day to the next, depending on how they feel.
Believe it or not, it's much easier to follow a resolution when you establish a clear goal.
When you set a defined goal as a resolution, you can set yourself up for success by laying out EXACTLY what you wish to accomplish.
For example, your goal might be to "lose 10 pounds by June 1," or go to the gym Monday through Friday.
You might opt to increase your sales at work by $100,000. Or you might decide to spend 30 minutes a day of one-on-one time with your toddler.
When your goals are precise, you're more likely to stay on track and succeed.
Plan Your Resolutions Early
Don't wait until you're sipping champagne at midnight to make your New Year's resolutions list. Start planning at least a couple of weeks before the New Year hits.
Play around with your ideas for a few days before you decide on what you feel you can stick to. Plan out your resolutions and what you'll do to stick to them.
And if your resolutions have anything to do with eating healthy, make sure your fridge, cupboards, and recipes are ready BEFORE you wake up on January 1.
To get even more prepared, make a list of any obstacles that might stand in your way. For instance, if one of your resolutions is to workout Monday through Friday, take note of the fact that you could get the flu.
If you get the flu and miss the gym on Thursday and Friday, what will your plan be? Will you allow yourself to write off those 2 days or commit to going Saturday and Sunday to compensate?
It matters less what your plan of action is for each obstacle and more about how you'll conquer them and follow through on your resolution when those bumps in the road come up.
Don't Repeat past Failures
If one of your goals last year was to read 30 books and see 30 movies, but you failed, don't make the same resolution. Set a new resolution that reflects a more reasonable goal (based on what you were able to accomplish the year before).
If you set the same goal as last year, you'll be starting with doubt or with the thought of failure undermining your resolution.
On the other hand, if you're determined to give it a second shot, all the more power to you! Just make sure you take a look at the prior year and analyze why you failed.
The more you take ownership of your previous failure, the more likely you are to conquer that goal this time around.
Start Small
Say you want to get healthy. You've dieted for years and played around with different food groups. You've determined that dairy, gluten, and sugar are 3 things you'd like to cut out in the New Year.
Each 1 of those things is hard enough to cut out in itself, let alone combined with the other 2.
But remember, it's ok to start small.
For example, opt to cut out gluten in January, sugar in February, and dairy in March. By April 1, you'll have cut out all 3 and be on your way to success for the rest of the year.
There's nothing wrong with taking it one month at a time either. For example, an all-natural 30-day detox is an excellent way to start the year! Just make sure that you detail what you'll achieve in the following months.
Get Support
New Year's resolutions are difficult to follow through on, for almost everybody.
There's no shame in getting support from a friend or family member who will keep you on track to complete your goals.
Maybe you have a good friend who wants to partake in the same resolution. Maybe your mom or sibling would agree to check in with you at the end of each week or month.
If it's a goal at work you're trying to achieve, get feedback from trusted coworkers as to how they'd go about the same goal. Ask them to shed light on any obstacles they deem to be potential bumps in the resolution road.
If you've decided to read a book a week, start a book club, even if it's just a 15-minute online discussion at the end of each week.
Don't Let a Stumble Encourage You to Quit
Completing your resolution doesn't mean you'll never slip up or fail. It means that you'll persevere nonetheless. If you've gone 4 months without sugar and you slip and eat some ice cream, don't give up!
Get right back on the horse the very next morning and put that ice cream slip up out of your mind. In the grand scheme of things, slipping up one time is nothing in comparison to giving up entirely and losing out on success for the remaining 8 months of the year.
Challenges are inevitable, and no one expects your path to be cut and dry. Part of the reason why only 8% of people stick to their resolutions is that so many people give up after just 1 mistake.
Take your relapse as a learning opportunity and encouragement to keep going.
Renew Your Goals
Any excellent manager checks in with their employees regularly. Any great personal trainer makes sure to stay in touch with their clients.
When you set goals for yourself, it's typically up to you to hold yourself accountable.
Set a day each month, for example, as a check-in time. Use it to look back at the past month, analyze how you've done and how you could be better. And on that day, renew your resolutions, even if you've made a mistake.
Hold yourself accountable and take pride in your goals, and you'll inevitably boost your likeliness of conquering those feats.
Make Sure It's Written Down
When you're planning out your New Year's resolutions, make sure you write down all your notes. When your goals are finalized, write them down and put them up on your fridge or the wall by your bed so that you can check-in every day and stay on track.
If something isn't working, rather than giving up completely, re-write that goal so that you can continue moving forward.
Don't Make Too Many Resolutions
Pleasurable habits, like eating chocolate or watching Netflix cause your brain to release a pleasurable chemical called dopamine. The more ingrained your enjoyable habits are, the harder they are to break.
The brain does make it hard to rid ourselves of those habits. At the same time, we have many areas of the brain, which help us do things that benefit our health and success.
If you make too many resolutions, it could be almost impossible for you to succeed.
Keep in mind that breaking a habit is hard, especially in the beginning stages. If your resolutions are going to entail a lot of habit-breaking, keep them clear and straightforward. And don't write more than you can handle!
Even though the New Year might pose a challenge, you want to ENJOY your New Year's resolutions.
Knowing How to Make New Year's Resolutions Is Empowering
People make New Year's resolutions all the time, and most of the time, people fail. Much of that, though, is attributed to the fact that many people don't know how to make New Year's resolutions in a way that sticks.
The right resolutions should be clear and concise. Try to set goals with objectives that detail exactly how you'll reach those goals.
Hold yourself accountable by getting support from others and checking in with yourself at least monthly.
And if you hit an obstacle, don't give up!
Do you want to know more about how Teami Blends can help with your New Year of healthy living? Check out our story here! You can also download our FREE e-book of recipes or contact us with any questions!
Adi Arezzini
Teami Blends - Co-Founder + CEO
Certified Nutrition Health Coach