With a new year generally comes a plethora of new goals we set for ourselves — most of which are forgotten by the end of January. If this has happened to you in the past, it’s bound to happen again. But why is that? Here’s why it’s so hard to keep your New Year’s resolutions:
- They’re too big. You want to lose weight? Start with five pounds, not 20. Try working out three days a week, not seven. You should start small and when you reach your goal, make a new one. It’s a lot easier to reach smaller milestones than trying to immediately jump to your final destination.
- You forget. If you really want to keep your New Year’s resolutions, you need reminders. Post your list on a wall that you will look at every day, and set up reminders on your phone. Just that little nudge can be the push you need to make your goals a reality.
- You have no faith. If you made resolutions already thinking about how you probably wouldn’t keep them, then odds are you’ll be right. Believing in yourself is the first step in achieving your goals. Have faith that you’ll make it to the end, and you probably will.
- You set too many. You should set a realistic number of goals for yourself. Really think about what you can handle. If you juggle too much, you’ll drop the ball on every goal you set. Really think about your time and what’s most important to you in 2016. Having one resolution you keep is a lot better than five you gave up on.
- You keep them to yourself. Your goals shouldn’t be a secret. There is no harm or embarrassment in trying to be healthier or getting fit. Even if your resolutions have nothing to do with your body, they’ll all be about trying to make your life better, and what’s the harm in that? Share your goals so that you have someone to check in and keep you accountable.
- You’re not committed. Remember that when you set resolutions, they aren’t wishes. Those things won’t just come naturally — you have to work for them. If you’re not willing to do the work and put in the time, then there’s no point in even making a resolution in the first place.
- You don’t reward yourself. Your little milestones are accomplishments, so treat them as such. Whether you buy yourself something nice, indulge in a delicious dessert, or just take a day off, a reward is a reward and working for it makes it all the more satisfying.
- You don’t make a plan. How exactly are you going to achieve your goal? You can’t execute a strategy if you don’t make one. Want to lose weight? How? If you’re looking for a promotion, how will you go the extra mile? No matter what goal you set, you need to know where to start.
- You don’t track your progress. Keep tabs on your goals. If you don’t know how you’re doing, you don’t know how far you’ve come, or if you should push yourself harder. So take a look at the scale, check in with your doctor on your health, get feedback at work. Whatever you do, find a way to measure your progress.
- You slip and give up. Every now and then you may not stick to your diet, splurge on a new top, or simply not have time. It happens to the best of us, but don’t let it get you down. One day doesn’t mean you failed, recommit yourself every day in order to make your dreams a reality.
