Thursday, January 2, 2014

How To Keep Your New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year's!

It's that time of year again when people make all these ambitious goals and resolutions for the new year and do away with them a week later. Last year was the first year that I actually made New Year's resolutions and was able to keep a few of them. This year I made some New Year's Resolutions that I really want to keep so I've made this list of 10 ways to keep your new year's resolutions that helped me out last year and I hope they help you out as well.


1. Make Realistic Goals.

If your goals are too drastic, you will feel overwhelmed and are more likely to give up. Instead of saying "I want to go to the gym 5 days a week", say "I want to go to the gym at least 2 times a week" and you can build to going more days from there.

2. Write Them Down.

The easiest way to forget that you ever made New Year's Resolutions is by keeping them in your head. Writing them down makes them more real.

3. Post Your Resolutions in a Place That You Will See Them.

Writing down your resolutions is a great start, but if you shove them into a drawer you will soon forget about them. Posting them in your room, your bathroom, etc. will keep them in your head as a constant reminder to complete your resolutions.

4. Tell Other People About Your Resolutions and Have Them Keep You Accountable.

Telling other people about your resolutions will help you keep your resolutions because they can help you and encourage you. They can remind you and ask about your new year's resolutions, which will keep you motivated to actually achieving them.

5. Make a Resolution With a Friend.

Keeping resolutions can be really difficult especially if you are doing them alone. If your resolution is to exercise more, eat better, or stop smoking, finding a friend who has the same resolution can be really helpful. You can exercise together, find and eat healthier options and help each other when you are craving a smoke. It is much more difficult to exercise, eat healthy, and stop smoking if the people around you are tempting you.

6. Make Short Term Goals.

Short term goals are much easier to keep and are small successes. Instead of focusing on losing 30 pounds, focus on losing the first 5, and reward yourself for your small success. When you have reached that first goal, then make another to lose another five.

7. Make Very Specific Goals.

Instead of saying "I want to read my bible more" or "I want to exercise more", use specifics. Say "I want to read one chapter of the bible every day" or "I want to ride my bike twice a week". The more specific your goals, the more likely you are to keep them. By using specific numbers, you are able to make a list and check them off when you have completed them.

8. Don't Get Discouraged.

Whatever your goal is, you are probably not going to complete it every single day or every single week. If you miss it once in a while, relax, it's fine.

9. Keep At It.

According to experts it can take 21 days for something to become a habit and six months for it to become part of your personality so be persistent and make time for your goals.

10. Don't Give Up.

One of the most common things people do when they start to fail at doing their resolutions at the beginning of the year is quitting altogether. Instead of quitting, recommit yourself to your resolutions, no matter how far long into the year you are.