“New Year, New Me!” We all exclaim after the countdown, kissing the closest stranger and taking another celebratory drink. We vow to better ourselves in this New Year; this is when I’ll finally start going to the gym and eating healthy, we think to ourselves, wanting to take advantage of this blank slate.
But more often than not, we’re back to our old ways by the time February hits.
According to Forbes Magazine, 37% of Americans commit to New Year’s resolutions. It’s an incredibly common tradition and pretty heavily ingrained into our collective consciousness- but data shows that 91% of people never accomplish their goals.
Turns out, changing our habits is more difficult than it looks- but there are certain steps we can take to make it easier to become our ideal selves.
How to keep your New Year’s resolutions for real this time
Read on to find out how to join the 9% who finish the year with accomplished goals!
Be Realistic
Sometimes, we set ourselves up for failure before we even begin.
As mentioned in the TikTok above, New Year’s resolutions don’t need to be big, fancy, or impressive but usually unachievable goals. Often, it’s more effective to start small and be kind to yourself.
For example, if you’re a person who has never worked out and your goal is to go to the gym every day this year, chances are you’ll be giving up completely after a week. It would be more feasible to start by working out once or twice a week and practicing forgiveness if you skip one or two sessions.
Take some time to look critically at your goals and decide if they are realistic and attainable.
Make a Vision Board
Vision boards are a fun, creative way to map out your vision for the year to come. Imagine a Pinterest board, but in real life. All you’ll need is a canvas, some pictures, and glue!
Start by printing some images and quotes that inspire you and remind you of the goals you want to achieve in the new year. Then, cut them out and collage them all onto a canvas or poster board.
Hand up your vision board somewhere you’ll see it often, like your bedroom. Every time you look at it, you’ll be reminded of all you wish to achieve and may find some newfound motivation!
Do it With a Friend
Our friends hold us accountable in many aspects of life, including New Year’s resolutions. One way to make it easier to stick to your goal is to share your resolution with a friend, and you can take the challenge on as a team.
Imagine this: you and your friends decide to eat healthier together. You can share yummy recipes, try new foods, and even have friendly competitions. Who can make the tastiest, healthy snack?
Friends can make achieving goals feel like an exciting adventure rather than a daunting chore. Having someone to share the ups and downs with can make the whole process feel less daunting.
Start a Journal
Journalling is a great mental health tool, but it’s also helpful for tracking your goals.
Writing down specific goals brings clarity and focus, helping to define your path forward. It’s easier to juggle all the thoughts in your head when you put them down on paper.
A journal will act as a progress tracker, allowing for the celebration of achievements and reflection on challenges. By keeping a record of your goals and the progress you’ve made so far, you can hold yourself accountable and keep your motivation high.
Happy 2024!
The key to keeping your resolutions lies in being realistic, having fun with it, keeping your motivation up and always remaining kind to yourself.
With the right tools, anything is possible- you just have to make sure you’re setting yourself up for success!
