You made those New Year Resolutions – are you prepared for the hard part?
As inspiring as they can get, New Year Resolutions are often amazing and huge changes to ourselves and lifestyles. But this could set us up for failure. How do we start, and how do we stick to it?
According to a study conducted by the University of Scranton, just 8 percent of people achieve their New Year’s goals, while around 80 percent fail to keep their New Year’s resolutions. Now, does this sound an awful lot like you? (It does, for me!)
Does this mean you should just give up on resolutions altogether?
Of course not! It’s always good to reflect on what went well and what didn’t in the past year. And it feels good to start a new year with clear goals, so you feel like you know where you’re heading. More Kylie Jenner, less Kanye West, amirite?
So how do we make those good feels last?
Tip 1: Be realistic
Have you never done this before? If so, to go from 0 to 100 is obviously going to be super tough. Set a goal that’s achievable, not intimidating.
Do you have the budget to start and stick with this resolution for the whole year? To commit to a new year resolution shouldn’t have to burden your wallet.
Tip 2: Be clear
- Avoid vague resolutions like “lose weight” or “read more”. This is akin to having a treasure map…with no treasure marked on it. Tag clear milestones like “5kg” or “60 books” so you know exactly where you want to get to.
- This also helps you track how close you are to hitting your final goal each time you review where you are.
Tip 3: Give yourself time
- Have a clear timeline to achieve your goals. “5kg in 6 months” or “60 books a quarter” helps you see how to pace yourself. All journeys take time, and this is no different!
- Bear in mind the first month of starting and trying to stick to a new resolution is the hardest! So don’t get disheartened too quickly. Even Batman took some time to escape the underground prison Bane put him in.
Tip 4: Break it down
- Now that you know what final success looks like, it’s time to break it down into steps. You finally know where your treasure lies on your map, you just need to plot your route to get there. If you’re looking to “lose 5kg in 6 months”, what is your goal each month?
- Getting started can sometimes be the hardest step, so have a clear idea of what your starting step should be. Check out these items that may be able to help give you a leg up.
Ready to get started now?
Get inspired by the 8 common New Year Resolutions, where we’ve curated easy and highly recommended ways to get started on them. Best of all, they come at wallet-friendly prices!
Read how you can get started on your resolutions (forreals) here!
