10 ways to make resolutions stick

How’s your New Year so far? Have you resolved to be  a new and improved You? Join the ranks! It’s uplifting and inspiring to be a New Year’s resolution maker. Hope abounds. Why is it then by mid January a lot of good intentions are…well…lost?  Why is it some people have stick-to-it-ness and others not? What is it about them? What do they do the rest of us don’t? I did some digging. Here’s what I found.

1. 21 days – Experts say creating new habits takes a minimum of 21 days of focused, concentrated effort. Be dedicated and consistent.
2. Give gold stars – Create a schedule or calendar for the resolution and check off each day as completed. There’s nothing more encouraging than seeing progress! I’d go for the full deal and buy a box of gold stars and lick and stick!
3. One at a time – People who successfully keep resolutions concentrate on only ONE at a time. After one is incorporated they will take on another.
4. Find support – If your goal is to lose weight is there a fitness or nutrition ‘challenge’ at the gym you could participate in? There are lots of apps that provide support and track progress. I have 2 friends (Pat and Maureen pictured above) who are aiming to kick start a year of healthy eating and increased energy. They’ve mutually agreed to adopt the Paleo Diet. Together they’ve researched the program, shared info and are acting as daily accountability buddies! You go girls!
5. Break resolution into steps and celebrate each one – If beginning an exercise program and getting in to shape is your resolution there will be many successes along the way. First you’ll feel good about yourself, then you’ll have more energy, after that  you will see start seeing changes in your body, the body will reshape completely, and ultimately you may start running 10k’s or stepping it up in some other way. Celebrate all stages of the journey!
6. Make FUN a goal – Maybe your resolution is to make better use of your time so instead of couch potato-ing, facebooking, TV watching or other time gobbling/little payoff activity – get out of the house and become more social…. get together with friends for dinner once a month or  take a course with a friend . Try diving into a hobby where you see results quickly and can share them with friends (ie knitting, cooking). Doing things just because they’re fun —is vital to human development.
7. Expect obstacles – There will be things that get in the way of your resolution. Anticipate what they might be and plan for them in advance. That way it’s merely a hiccup and you’re not knocked off your axis and plunged into despair.
8. Setbacks happen to the best resolution makers – Before you blame, criticize and beat yourself up understand it happens to the best of resolv-ers! Instead ask self, “What can I do differently?”
9. Announce it! Telling people and making the resolution public sets up the resolv-er for success (or shame). People will want to know how it’s going. What will you tell them?
10. EMBRACE the symbolism of the season…it’s the opportunity to become all you want to be. Refresh, restart, renew.
    

Wishing everyone great success!