How to Make Your New Year’s Resolutions Stick

The start of each New Year brings a reflection on the past year and a desire for change. Most of us are hoping to leave much of 2020 behind, including the cycle of starting New Year’s resolutions in January, only to have them fall by the wayside shortly after. This blog aims to help you to start over, if necessary, and set yourself up for success.

So, How Can I Be More Successful with My New Year’s Resolutions?

While there may be many reasons for any particular resolution being difficult, the most common issues surrounding resolutions are not breaking goals into manageable steps, taking on an “all or nothing” stance, making too many resolutions at once, and not asking for support.

1. Pick one resolution to focus on and break that into manageable steps.

According to howstuffworks, “One of the most common reasons we break our New Year’s resolutions is that we get a little overzealous when we make them and we over-commit.” This may be easier said than done as most of us have more than one aspect of your life that we would like to improve. However, long-term change in one area leads to more growth than short-term change in a bunch of areas for a few weeks.

2. Give yourself the room for “partial” credit.

Many of us take an “all or nothing” approach to resolutions, such as “I forgot the last two days, so I guess I failed.” This approach is neither accurate nor helpful. The Guardian notes that “missing a day made no difference” in a study on forming new habits. Getting back on track after a day, a few days, or a week or two off is possible. It might be helpful to think of it as “doing the next best thing.” For example, if you have a goal of walking everyday and find that it has been a week since you walked, ask yourself: what is the next step I need to take to get back on track? It might be going for a walk right then and there, it might be asking a loved one to walk with you later that day, or it might even be setting aside time in your schedule for a walk tomorrow.

3. Let loved ones in on your resolutions.

The same howstuffworks article notes that by letting loved ones know about your resolution, “you not only [add] accountability — which many of us need to motivate ourselves — but it also gives you a support system.” You may also find that, by sharing your resolution with those close to you, you have a resolution in common and can work together on that goal.

For more support and tools to help with your New Year, contact Claire LaBriola, APC following this link.