It's very easy to make New Year's resolutions in the heat of enthusiasm and glowing joy,but most of us are more familiar with the difficulty of sticking to the resolutions! It is possible, but it does take focus, planning, and determination. To be successful you have to consider that changing a resolution takes the same amount of time it would take change a habit. Before you plan to forget what you've resolved to change, implement the following suggestions.
Realize that New Year's day is just another day and that making resolutions on this day is no different from making a resolution on any other day. While it's a convenient time because it's a new year and therefore feels like a new beginning, placing too much emphasis on it being “a brand new start to the rest of your whole life is going to change” is unrealistic. Think of the occasion more as a catalyst for change and a jumping-off point.
Pinpoint your most realistic resolutions. Review the different areas in your life and think about what is working as well as what isn't. Instead of picking the same old resolutions that you can never seem to keep, like losing weight, giving up smoking or winning an award, choose an area that you know needs improvement. Think long term and make sure it's something you can realistically see happening.
Write down your resolutions. Once you have decided on your achievable resolutions, write them down. You could even make a contract with yourself stating what you will do and sign it to make it official. Writing down the resolutions creates a greater connection between your thinking self and your doing self and makes the resolution appear more real.
Focus on one change at a time. Rather than trying to have several large changes underway at once, such as trying to lose weight, quit smoking, and increase your exercise regime, break the changes down into smaller lots and focus on one single resolution at a time. Your focus and energies won't be spread too thinly this way and you can give the single resolution all of your attention.
Use positive language rather than negative demands when thinking about doing your resolution. For example, rather than thinking "I can't be bothered going to the gym", think "I always feel so much better for going to the gym, and I love that feeling." Highlighting the benefit to you is far more motivating than focusing on the negatives and self-deprecation for not doing it as expected.
Make the change a gradual one. A resolution is unlikely to be enduring if you implement it in its totality the first day. Giving up your favorite daily treats cold turkey will probably cause you to think about them endlessly and finally give in to resuming eating them. Instead, slowly wean yourself off the treats by eating less of them each week, until you are no longer including them in your daily eating regime. Give yourself plenty of time to make the change. At least 21 days of pursuing a new habit is needed to break the old habit, and a good period of time to set a new resolution in place is around two months, after which time it should feel much easier to meet your resolution.
Get some support. Tell a friend or your loved ones whom you trust about your resolution. They will provide you with support and keep you focused on your goal. And if you are wavering at all, their support will ensure you don't give up, just in case you feel like a quitter.
Review your progress. Break your resolution down into stages so you can track your progress. Look back after a couple of months and see what you're doing right. Try to fix anything that you're doing wrong. For instance, if your resolution was to go to the gym three evenings a week, perhaps you haven't been sticking to it because you always work late. Try going in the mornings instead. Making a minor adjustment could be the key to success.
Build on your resolutions. When you're doing well at keeping your resolution, you may discover that you are feeling better about other areas of your life. Going to the gym may lead you to cut out smoking too. Similarly, if you have given up something as part of your resolution, try to find a pleasant and diversionary substitute to keep your mind occupied. Quitting smoking may encourage you to exercise more.
Celebrate. Remember to celebrate your successes, but make sure the way you celebrate doesn't go against your resolution. If you cut down on drinking alcohol, clearly it's best not to reward yourself with a glass of wine. Instead, treat yourself to those shoes you've had your eye on, or tickets to a play you've been dying to see. You deserve it! Keep going. Why stop now when you've done this well? Extend the timeline of your resolution and work it into your everyday routine. By next year, you'll be more than ready to face your next challenge.