It's not always easy to keep New Year's resolutions. In fact, according to some statistics about 80% of resolutions don't make it past February. There never seems to be enough time! Or perhaps you don't have enough energy or willpower to accomplish everything. But don't despair! For one, your life's success should not revolve around how often you keep up with your resolutions. And secondly, you can always reevaluate the way you make resolutions. This year can be different. With the tips below, you can make the perfect resolution list that will last!
Set
realistic expectations
To start off, keep it simple. Maybe just make one resolution. Choose this one
goal and then break it down into smaller, more manageable bits. For example, if
you want to save $2,000, think about it in terms of saving just a certain
percentage of every paycheck. That makes your goal less intimidating and makes
it feel more likely to be accomplished. Don't forget to reward yourself with a
little emotional support. Every time you save some money, praise yourself!
Rewarding yourself for every positive step will help you have the confidence
you need to continue on.
Do more
of something you love
Just because you enjoy doing something over and over doesn't make it a guilty pleasure. A lot of our favorite activities can have a very positive impact in our life. Don't be afraid to tell yourself you're going to read more even though you already love reading. It's a very healthy habit. Maybe you want to go fishing a little more this year. It's a great outdoor activity! Make a promise to spend more time with your children or grandkids. These are all great examples of doing more if something you love. It's just a friendly way to let you know that a resolution doesn't have to be something you dread.
Get
better at something you really like to do
Again, no one said a resolution has to involve
something that will make you miserable. You can already improve upon something
you're good at. It's something you should strive to do every day; being better
at today than you were yesterday. Don't be afraid to take a musical lesson for
an instrument you already play. Don't be afraid to cook something new and
exciting even though people already know you're a great chef. Don't be afraid
to improve your golf swing even if you're at a suitable handicap. Building on
top of something you already love is a fantastic resolution for 2021.
Make a
plan early on and stick to it
Studies show that people who make impulsive resolutions are less likely to stick to them. Therefore, you should think about what is most important to you and create strategies from there. This will help you deal with problems and setbacks that may come up as you move towards your goal. We always like to explain to people about the importance of pre-planning your funeral. We think it's an incredibly important goal to have, especially as we get older in life. So if this is a goal you'd like to accomplish, this third tip is for you. Tracking your progress will help. The more you monitor and praise yourself, the more likely you are to succeed.
Look at
the bright side
Sometimes we don't need a physical goal to help us in life. There are plenty of
ways to improve mental health as well. In fact, focusing on the positive side
of things is a great place to start. Staying positive will give you more energy
and enthusiasm to pursue different goals throughout your life. People who believe that they can succeed are more
likely to do so. For example, praise yourself for losing five pounds, but don't
punish yourself for gaining one back. You will reach your goal more easily if
you accentuate the positive.
Forgive
yourself
Remember when we said your New Year's
resolutions shouldn't dictate how successful you are? We still mean it. We
don't want you to beat yourself up even if you have trouble completing one
thing from this list. Don't be hard on yourself if you don't accomplish the
small goals you set for yourself. Remind yourself that every day is a new day and
an opportunity to try again. Afterall, isn't that the point of New Year's? A
fresh start, a fresh beginning. Look at each new day as the same way you feel
2021. Maybe you cheated on your diet yesterday or you skipped the gym another
day. The world will not come crashing down because of it. We know that, and you
need to know that, too! Learning to forgive yourself is an incredibly important
lesson to learn when it comes to accomplishing goals. It gives you the courage
to say, "Yes, I messed up, but I'm ready to try again!" So let's all be better
this coming year. Onward to 2021!
