Make Your New Year's Resolutions Stick Like Glue
The switching from one year to the next is symbolic just as turning a new blank page, a rebirth or the spring cleaning. All those things are associated with new, fresh and clean prospects. All hopes are up and we are desperate to leave the negativity in our life behind. Often we hide the things we don't want to deal with, deep inside us in the hope we forget about them. We even may hope that with the changing of the year magically our problems disappear as well, and that we can start with a blank slate.
However the things we suppress have the nasty habit to come back to the surface over and over again until we deal and dispose of those issues. The more issues that are concealed the harder it becomes to create new healthy habits. It is therefore not surprising that a lot of New Year Resolutions don't make it after the 14 day mark.
Would that be a reason just to give up or not even to start? That will depend on the negatives we suppress. Nevertheless there are some steps you can take that make the success rate of the resolution the stick go up to 75% plus.
Pick one or two resolutions: It can become very overwhelming and hard on our system if we want to change to many things at the same time. For example quitting smoking and start a healthy diet, is just too much at once. Pick one and focus on that resolution, remember to incorporate it into your daily routine.
Find out for yourself WHY this resolution is so important to you. When you know the "why" you want to achieve this goal; this gives insight on the importance it has for you. The more significant the why, the more there is at stake, therefore more incentive to see it come in to fruition.
Make a visual reminder. This can be a vision board, a screen saver or just a picture on the fridge. The what or where is not that specific, but it is to be where you see it a couple times a day and pick something that represent your goal.
Be accountable to someone. Ask for support from someone you can count on, and who is not afraid to call you out when you are slacking. It is like an extra battery, if you feel empty and have difficulty to move on, they can give you the boast you need.
Our doubts and reservation come to the front, when we want to develop or change a habit. Therefore it's normal, that when we start a new habit that it feels a little stained, unnatural. Before a new habit becomes natural it takes time and practice. Don't be discouraged if you don't master the new habit right away, good things take time. You want this new habit to stick with you for a long time and if you fall, no problem just get up and restart, Luckily every day we have the chance to start new and not only on January the 1.
Struggling to find a support buddy? Call Ellen to set up an accountability system with her.
