Setting New Year’s Resolutions that Actually Stick

Losing weight, meal prepping, blogging more. Yes, these are new year’s resolutions I always make but never keep. I know I’m not the only one. In fact, research shows that 80% of us abandon our resolutions by the second week of February- just in time for my birthday.

If you want your resolutions to stick, you may have to make the Nike’s Just do it your own personal philosophy. That’s right, you'll need to suck it up and get things done. But the road to just doing it is not as easy as just saying it. Check out these five tips so you won't have to make any of the same old resolutions come next year:

Set Meaningful Intentions

Intentions are less rigid than resolutions. They are more about how you want to feel and less about what you want to do. For example, if you feel that you want to work out more, ask yourself why. Is it to improve your health? To feel stronger? If so, your intention could be to gain strength. The word ‘strength’ could be your intention for the year and a daily reminder of where you need to be.

Plan Ahead

It was Benjamin Franklin who said: “if you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail”. The man had more a dozen titles in his lifetime, so he would know a thing or two about meeting goals. My advice is to break down your goals into smaller ones. For example, instead of saying that I am going to the gym, I think of a marker of working out, like meeting my trainer twice a week. This makes the idea more specific and a lot more tangible.

Map It Out

Determine what you’ll need to do quarterly, monthly, weekly, or even daily to reach your goals. I’ve never been good at keeping a planner or journal, so I resort to spreadsheets, google docs and google calendar to keep myself organized. Think about what organizational tools work best for you and use them regularly. It may take some trial and error, but there are countless options you can test out.  

Check In

They say that what gets scheduled gets done, but only if you are the type of person that follows a schedule. Visualize your goals by putting them on your calendar, displaying it on your desk, or even putting them as part of your password. Schedule monthly check-ins to evaluate your progress. Be flexible and make any necessary adjustments.

Get Accountable

If you can’t make yourself accountable for your goals, find someone who can. Whether’ it’s a partner, a friend, or even a professional, seeking outside coaching can help you keep your commitments. I spent years struggling with maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It wasn’t until I hired a personal trainer and a nutritionist until I finally saw some progress.

As you set goals for 2019, don’t think you have to do it all alone. Let me know your goals for 2019 and if you found this helpful, pass on the love so your friends could become as successful just like you.