1. Set Realistic Goals
We all want to conquer that mountain that is our New Year's resolution, but often times we fail because our goals are unrealistic. When we set unrealistic goals for ourselves, it leads to discouragement and makes us want to quit.You are not going to lose 10lbs in a week without being miserable and you will not be a master pianist by February no matter how much you practice. Achieving your goals takes time, so make sure you remind yourself of that when you are not seeing instant results.
2. Don't Be Overly Ambitious
Introducing too much change at once can become very overwhelming and may lead to loss of motivation. The best way to implement a major change in your life is to introduce it slowly, so that it may become routine instead of a chore. For those of you who chose to pick up a new hobby, the Japanese technique of Kaizen will prove helpful. Kaizen is making yourself practice something for at least a minute each day. If you tell yourself you are going to practice an instrument or read for an hour, you will find an excuse not to do it. However, when you approach your hobby with the Kaizen technique, you will have no excuse not to spend 60 seconds of your day practicing. In fact, you might realize that practicing for that single minute was enjoyable to you, leading to a gradual increase of time spent doing the activity each day.
3. Create Reminders
We're all very busy and become easily distracted, so creating reminders is very helpful in keeping us on track with our New Year's resolution. Write down reminders to go to the gym in your daily planner or to-do list and revel in the satisfaction of crossing it off of your list. Set timers on your phone to drink a cup of water every hour or so. Make use of that handy dandy calendar on your phone to stay organized. It is also very helpful to do certain things at the same time everyday. Your less likely to forget doing something this way.
4. Have Yourself An Accountabili-buddy
You do not have to tackle your New Year's resolution alone! Get one of your buddies to help hold you accountable for your new responsibility and vice versa. Your buddy will push you harder than you will push yourself, support you, and will give you the motivation and drive to succeed. It is also nice to be open about your vulnerabilities and any struggles you are having with your resolution.
5. Stay Positive & Motivated
Even if you have someone helping you with your New Year's resolution, your success falls solely on your shoulders in the end. You have to keep a positive mentality about your goals. The moment you start thinking negatively about yourself is the moment everything will begin to crumble. Remind yourself that change does not happen over night. If you have a slip-up, pick yourself back up and try again. Do not give up! Keep reminding yourself of the desired end-result and how satisfied you will be once you reach your goal. Read inspirational quotes. Look at inspirational pictures. Give yourself a motivational speech in the mirror. Do whatever it takes to keep your New Year's resolution this year and to achieve future goals to come!
