5 Ways to Keep Your New Year’s Resolution All Year Long

Of the millions of people who make New Year’s resolutions, only about 8 percent achieve their goals. This means it is likely that at some point in your life, you too, set a resolution that you were unable to carry out.

It’s not uncommon! About 80 percent of resolutions are abandoned by mid-February! Try out these five simple tips to help you stick with your 2019 resolution all the way through to 2020.

1. Start Small

The tortoise and hare fable offers a good lesson, especially pertaining to New Year’s Resolutions. Starting slow and steady is an excellent step toward maintaining progress toward your goal all year long, especially when it comes to weight loss.

Many people make the mistake of setting an incredibly difficult and ultimately unattainable goal from the start. While a lofty goal like “I want to lose 30 pounds,” is admirable, most people get lost in the big picture and fail to see the milestones they reach along the way.

Instead of setting one huge, all-consuming goal, try setting smaller goals or milestone markers and work toward those one at a time instead. In this case, try starting out with “I want to lose 5 pounds.” Doing this will give you the opportunity to celebrate your progress while also working toward that overarching goal.

2. Dedicate Time

Many New Year’s Resolutions involve some form of lifestyle change. Just as unhealthy behaviors develop over time, it might take a while to replace them with healthy ones. Experts say it takes about 66 days for a new activity to develop into a habit and up to six months for it to become part of your personality.

3. Share Your Goals

Don’t keep your resolution a secret! Sharing your journey and experiences with family and friends can give you an outlet to discuss your struggles and celebrate your successes. Having people to turn to will make your journey less intimidating.

Also, asking others for support can be extremely beneficial. If you feel overwhelmed or unable to meet your goals on your own, consider accepting help. Finding someone you trust to listen to you strengthens your resilience and ability to manage any stress caused by your resolution.

4. Believe in Yourself

Everyone is allowed the occasional slip-up. Nobody’s perfect! Minor missteps on your path to achieving your goals are completely normal.

Don’t give up just because you skipped the gym one day or cheated on your diet. Believe in yourself and resolve to recover from your mistake to get back on track.

5. Reward Yourself

Rewarding yourself doesn’t have to mean compromising your goal. Celebrate your success by treating yourself to something else that brings you joy that won’t contradict your resolution.

If you’re working to lose weight, for example, don’t eat an entire sleeve of cookies to celebrate hitting a milestone. Try rewarding yourself by going to a movie with a friend or loved one instead!

What’s your 2019 New Year’s Resolution? Do you have your own tips to stay on track throughout the year?