How to Make Your Resolutions Stick All Year Long

Many of us start the New Year making resolutions. We vow to eat healthier, go to the gym, quit smoking, spend less money, get organized, etc. So why is it, that only 8% of us are able to stick with these resolutions? We start the year with great intentions, but then we quickly relapse into old habits. Why is it so hard to keep those New Year’s resolutions?

First of all you need to understand that you are not a failure. Mistakes, issues and challenges are just opportunities to begin again more intelligently. Don’t beat yourself up or tell yourself that you are no good. In order to truly be successful at anything we want to achieve we must get rid of the “I’m not good enough” and “you never do anything right” talk.

Here are some ways you can make your intentions a reality this year:

1.) Set Your Intention
Ask yourself what you want to change and how you want to feel.  Then write down your positive intentions and keep them in a visible place, like taped to your bedroom mirror, the bathroom mirror or refrigerator.

2.) Find The Source of Your Resistance
Get to the source of whatever is keeping you in a rut. Are you in a stressful relationship that causes you to eat a pint of Ben & Jerry’s every night? Are you stressed at your job and feel too tired to exercise after work?  If you don’t tackle the root of the behavior, it will be much harder to accomplish your goal.

3.) Visualize Your Goal
Be clear about what your life would look like once you achieve your goal. If you resolve to go to the gym more, how will this benefit you? Visualize yourself feeling better, looking better and having more confidence. Get connected to the result of your action, and you will be more likely to stick with your plan.

4.) Get Support
Share your resolutions with friends and family. Hold each other accountable for achieving your goals. If you want to go to the gym more, have a friend call you two or three times a week to check on you or invite them to join you.

5.) Reward Yourself
Reward yourself with every little accomplishment. If your intention is to lose weight and you lose 1 pound a week, pamper yourself with a massage or a healthy treat.

6.) Forgive Yourself
Practice a loving and forgiving relationship with yourself. If you are unable to reach your goal forgive yourself and try again. Encourage yourself, the way you would a child. If after trying another time you are unable to succeed maybe you need to set a more realistic and attainable goal.

I really encourage you to think about what it is that you WANT. If you find yourself getting discouraged and thinking “it’s never going to change, so why bother” that is exactly what will happen. Positive thoughts lead to positive actions. Take a moment and ask yourself, “What can I be doing right now to feel better?”

True life is lived when tiny changes occur. — Leo Tolstoy