How to Make Your Resolutions Actually Work

​A New Year is here, but before you bring out the hats and whistles it’s time to sit down and think about what you want the new year to bring with it. It’s common for people to create New Year’s resolutions, but the reality is that they rarely work.
 
Research shows that fitness facilities sell the most memberships in January, but if you go to one of those facilities in February it’s obvious that everyone has already thrown in the towel. So what can you do to make your resolutions actually work for you?

1. Start with something small.

New Year’s resolutions are usually centered on some life-style change. Weight loss, fitness, clean eating, and budgeting are all frequently heard resolutions. While these are great resolutions to consider, also consider the difficulty with tackling such a large goal. Break your resolution into smaller pieces so that you can make mini-goals that align with your larger goal. Smaller pieces seem less daunting and allow you to track your progress more easily, which can help you to stay motivated.

    2.  Write it down.
Writing down your resolutions formalizes them. Putting pen to paper makes them real and also helps you to feel accountable to yourself for their completion. Spend some time considering what your large goal is, some action steps or mini-goals, and then write them down.

     3. Plan to fail.
Yes, you read that correctly. Identify that you will stumble along the way. This normalizes the minor set backs that are apart of the change process and makes you more likely to get up and give it another try. Ask yourself what you will down when you stumble. How will you pick yourself back up?
 
Use these three tips to create attainable resolutions that you won’t give up by February.

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