Whether you’re planning on going to the gym more often, learning a new language or managing your time more efficiently, staying true to yearly commitments is always easier said than done. But with five helpful tips, you should be ready to go as soon as the ball drops.
Be Realistic
When setting your goals, keep in mind that they need to be something you will actually not only be able to stick to, but actually do. For instance, if you make a resolution to wake up every morning at 7 a.m. to go for a five mile run, but you aren’t a morning person and you hate running, this is obviously not going to work out for you. Instead, consider going to the gym after school or possibly attending a workout class at night. If you decide that you would like to learn how to speak Russian or travel more— maybe even both, make sure you have access to the proper resources you would need to do that.
Write It Out
As you begin thinking of changes you’d like to make in your life, write them down. The National Health Service (NHS) of the UK says, “Make your plans and progress concrete by keeping a handwritten journal, completing a computer spreadsheet or covering a notice board with graphs or pictures.” Regardless of how simple or complex you make it, having a list or a journal helps you remember your resolutions and could also keep you motivated. When you see the progress you’re making, you’ll become less likely to give up.
Make It a Lifestyle Change
So many activities we do on a daily basis are like second nature to us— we wake up, get dressed, eat, go to class, work, do assignments, sleep and wake up the next day and do it all over again. While it’s easy to say “I just don’t have the time” in order to get out of sticking with your resolutions, there is a simple solution. Rather than thinking of your new goals as an extra activity, make it a lifestyle change. A great example is eating healthy. If you have a resolution to cut down on how much Chick-fil-A you eat every week, look for healthier, less processed foods. In addition, don’t think of this as a “diet” or a temporary solution; think of it as a lifestyle change.
Be Unique
Recycling, in general, is a great thing to do. It benefits the environment and makes you feel accomplished, but when it comes to recycling resolutions, that isn’t necessarily the best idea. In fact, according to the NHS UK, “Deciding to revisit a past resolution sets you up for frustration and disappointment.” Try your best to branch out and think of ideas outside of the box. If you have a particular resolution that you have tried before, analyze what you enjoyed about it, what you didn’t enjoy about it and why it ended up failing. Use these observations to your advantage to edit your new resolution and tailor it to your needs. Not only will this resolution be unique, but you will be more likely to follow through with it.
Don’t Take It Too Seriously
While keeping up with your New Year’s Resolutions could be an emotional rollercoaster of success and disappointment, don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s not the end of the world if you wait until the last minute to complete an assignment or miss a workout one day. All in all, New Year resolutions are meant to be fun, and if you end up foregoing your list for 2019, don’t forget that there’s always 2020.
