By Blessing Etim
Making resolutions can be a great way to set goals and intentions for the new year and beyond, decisions such as making positive changes, putting an end to a bad habit and adopting a healthier one, is always a good idea one should see through to the end.
However, often, we seem not to realize that the problem is not our incapability of sticking to our resolutions, but the need to do a better job making new year goals that are actionable and achievable. Otherwise, it is almost like setting yourself up to fall short.
Resolutions are way easier to make than to keep, which is why many of us would have abandoned our resolves and settled back into our old patterns by the end of the year.
In other to make it more likely that you will keep your next resolution, the following tips may assist you beat the odds;
SHORTEN YOUR RESOLUTION LIST
While you might have a long list of potential New Year Resolutions, it will be wise that you pick just one and focus your energies on it rather than having a large number of resolutions you can barely achieve.
BE REALISTIC
Making resolutions such as ‘I will never eat my favourite meal again”, might not be realistic as the surest way to fall short of your goal is to make your goal unrealistic. Instead, strive for a goal that is attainable, such as avoiding the meal more often than you do now.
MAKE SMALLER RESOLUTIONS
Similar to being realistic, creating a resolution that is too big sets you up for failure. A decision such as committing to reading two books a month instead of four could be a good place to start.
TELL SOMEONE ABOUT YOUR RESOLUTIONS
if you are really hoping to change certain habits in the long-term, going public might be a good idea as you might be more likely to achieve your resolutions if you make them public. “Sharing our goals holds us accountable, so it is harder to back out.
TRY OUT NEW WAYS OF ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS
In achieving your yearly resolutions, consider altering it slightly to make it more feasible by changing your approach, as this will aid you to see real results this year. And If you do choose to realize the same goals you have tried for in the past, spend some time evaluating your previous results. Which strategies were the most effective? Which were the least effective? What has prevented you from keeping your resolution in past years?
GIVE IT TIME
Remember that change is a process and this is not a race to the finish. Once you have made the commitment to changing a behavior, it may be something that you continue to work on for the rest of your life. Afterall, those unhealthy or undesired habits that you are trying to change probably took years to develop, so how can you expect to change them in just a matter of days, weeks, or months? Be patient with yourself. Understand that working towards your resolution is a process. Even if you make a misstep or two, you can restart and continue on your journey towards your goal.
LAST THOUGHTS…
Celebrate your little successes. The yearly ritual of making new resolutions does not have to be an annual disappointment. Always remember to be kind and flexible with yourself and to celebrate any and all progress along the way. It is not just the end goal that matters but the journey along the way.
