New Year’s Resolutions: Making Yours Stick
Today’s post is by Justin Butcher.
Christmas is the time of year when even the most disciplined of people let go: Eating lots, drinking and socialising all combine as one and lead to a period of excess. On the other side of Christmas when the last of the turkey has been eaten and there are no more chocolates left millions of people promise themselves that this year they are going to make resolutions to improve their lives and this year they are going to stick to them.
There is a great deal of satisfaction to be gained from deciding to do something differently or to give something up and then stick to it. The start of a new year is the perfect time to make such promises as it can bring an added amount of willpower and there is a good chance you won’t be the only person wanting to make a change and there is a great sense of shared optimism.
However, making such promises is easy and all the optimism and right intentions usually only gets most people through to the end of January. This can lead to feelings of disappointment and make it even more difficult to start again. The tips given in this article have been put together to help you make resolutions that are achievable and to support you in sticking to them for the whole year and not just the first ten days.
Be Realistic
It can be easy to get carried away when setting yourself a resolution but the most successful resolutions are those which are feasible and realistically achievable. Setting goals such as giving up chocolate completely, losing three stone a month or that you will go to the gym five times a week may sound good, but they will more than likely lead to disappointment and you will lose heart very quickly. Choose realistic goals, such as getting off the bus a stop early, cutting down on alcohol or maybe going to the gym once at the weekend and once during the week.
Put a Time Limit On It
One of the reasons most New Year’s resolutions fail is because from the moment they start there is no end date in sight. If you decide to give up alcohol, it’s much better to try and give it up for one month and to then try and extend it. Making resolutions manageable makes them much more achievable and great motivation can be gained from reaching a deadline, no matter how short.
Don’t Keep it to Yourself
Telling your friends and family about your resolution is important for when you are on the brink of giving up. When your resolve is weakening, having someone who is close to you to give you a boost to carry on can be the difference between achieving your goals and not.
Have Something Special Planned as a Reward
Everyone loves a reward and having the incentive of a treat can also be a great spur of motivation when you are on the verge of giving up. With resolutions, if you have chosen to give something up or to cut down on something why not use the money saved to but something special for yourself, a treat that you wouldn’t normally buy.
Good luck with your resolutions and if you’ve managed to keep yours up to now hopefully the tips in this article will help you carry on and see your goals through to the end.
The Coaching Academy is at the forefront of coach training and offers life coaching, business and personal performance coaching courses.