How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions
DECEMBER 19th
🎉 Hey East Bay 🎉
It’s that time of year again, the time when we take a moment and jot down what we would like to change in the upcoming year.
Studies show that most people who make New Year’s resolutions stop in February. That is why I wanted to take a moment and provide some steps that could make the process easier for success.
Before diving into it, it is probably a good idea to define a resolution.
In very basic terms, a resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something. This seems fairly straightforward, but the definition does not account for the actual behavior change involved with deciding to do something or not.
Are You Ready?
Before setting a resolution and moving toward keeping your promise, it is first important to ask yourself if you are truly ready to make a change.
According to the Statistics Brain Research Institute, 45% of Americans usually make New Year's resolutions. Of those, only 8% are successful.
So what gives? Is it a lack of willpower? Inability to set realistic resolutions? The reality is it has more to do with your stage of readiness.
How ready are you to engage in a behavior change that is predictive of your success?
You may have the best intentions, but if your lifestyle simply does not provide the opportunity for you to make this change, you will not succeed. This is one of the reasons why the success rate is so low.
What Should You Do?
Setting a resolution is a bit more complex than is believed.
Here are steps to follow as you set your New Year's resolutions:
Step 1: Plan Time for Your Goal
Determine if your work schedule and responsibilities will allow you to plan time for yourself and your resolution.
Step 2: Check In With Your Support System
Determine if your significant other or other family members will provide positive support to you as needed throughout your resolution time frame.
Step 3: Prepare Resources
Determine if you have the physical resources to accomplish your goal or if you have the budget to invest in the resources you need to accomplish your goal.
Step 4: Set Smaller Progress Goals Within THE Resolution
This is a big one. By breaking down a big resolution goal into smaller process goals, You will be much more successful because the resolution goal does not look so challenging.
Sometimes when you take on a big goal it can look daunting and it can create a sense of being overwhelmed.
However, creating a plan that will give you focus, a sense of direction, and a measurable system that tracks your progress.
Step 5: Celebrate Your Successes
Many people do not succeed in their New Year's resolutions because they set a goal that may be so far in the future, and they have no checks and balances that allow them to celebrate their successes.
You should set up a frequent reward system that provides positive affirmation for achieving your smaller, process goals. By following a continuous reward system you will keep your motivation high.
Following these steps will not guarantee you success in attaining your New Year's resolution, but it will certainly prepare you better as you progress through the process.
A little time spent in the planning and preparation of the steps you will take will yield tremendous dividends as you engage in your New Year's resolution journey.