It is human nature to expand, grow and crave real change. Every year, millions of people make New Year’s resolutions with the best of intentions. Whether it’s to lose weight, exercise more, save money, or simply be a better person, the start of a new year can feel like a fresh start and a chance to make positive changes in our lives. However, despite our best efforts, many of us struggle to stick to our resolutions and end up abandoning them within a few weeks or even days.
There are several reasons why people don’t stick to their New Year’s resolutions. One common reason is that the resolutions are too vague or unrealistic. For example, resolving to “lose weight” or “exercise more” is fine, but it’s important to be specific about how much weight you want to lose and how often you plan to exercise. Without a clear plan, it’s easy to get overwhelmed or lose motivation.
Another reason people don’t stick to their resolutions is that they try to do too much too soon. If you’re used to being sedentary, it’s unrealistic to expect that you’ll suddenly be able to run a marathon or hit the gym every day. It’s important to start small and gradually build up to your goals.
And finally, you need to have a strong enough reason for making the change. If you’re not fully committed to your resolution, it’s easy to lose motivation when things get tough. It’s important to really think about why you want to make this change and what it will mean for your life.
So, how can you set yourself up for success and make lasting positive changes in your life? Here are a few tips:
- Set specific, achievable goals. Instead of resolving to “lose weight,” resolve to lose 10 pounds in the next three months. This gives you a clear target to work towards and makes it easier to track your progress.
- Start small and gradually build up. If you want to start exercising more, start by walking for 20 minutes a day and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your workouts as you become more comfortable.
- Find a support system. Whether it’s a friend, a family member, or a support group, having someone to encourage you and hold you accountable can make a big difference in your success.
- Make a plan and stick to it. Set aside specific times for your workouts and make a schedule that you can stick to.
- Be consistent. The key to forming a new habit is to do it consistently over time. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results right away – it takes time to see progress.
- Be patient and kind to yourself. Change is hard and it’s normal to have setbacks. Don’t beat yourself up if you slip up – just get back on track as soon as you can.
In conclusion, while it’s natural to want to make positive changes in our lives, it’s important to be realistic and set ourselves up for success. By setting specific, achievable goals, starting small, finding a support system, making a plan, and being consistent and patient, we can form new habits and make lasting positive changes in our wellbeing. So, it is important to be consistent, patient, and kind to ourselves while we are trying to form new habits.