New Year’s Day has come and gone. You’ve made your resolutions and now it’s crunch time – are you sticking with your plan, or have you fallen off the wagon already? Either way, read on for tips to stay (or get back) on track and actually achieve those goals this time!
The first, and most important, thing to remember is that your resolution isn’t set in stone. You can alter it, revise it, or start over. If you realize that your resolution isn’t working for you, revising it to make a more attainable goal is way better than throwing in the towel. For example, you’ve resolved to lose 20 pounds. You’re 8 days in and you’re trying to eat healthier, but you’re feeling the pressure of a super-strict diet. You may feel overwhelmed that 20 pounds is a big number and you’ve only lost one. Here’s your opportunity to revise your goal to lose five pounds, a much more manageable number.
Another great thing to keep in mind is that once you’ve achieved your goal, you can always set a new one. Back to our 20 pound revised to five-pound weight loss example – once you’ve lost those first five pounds, celebrate your achievement! Check off that box and enjoy the satisfaction of how great you feel. Then, set another five-pound weight loss goal and get started. Breaking up big goals into smaller, more manageable goals, makes you more likely to stick with them and in the long run, to be more successful.
Forgiveness is a key component to life, and while you apply it to other people, be sure to apply it to yourself. If you slip up on a resolution, shrug your shoulders and move on. Beating yourself up about it, or worse, implementing a punishment, will only give you negative feelings towards your goals. Forgive yourself and get back on track, because you can’t change the past, but you can change your future.
If you haven’t made a resolution, it’s not too late. Every morning you wake up is a new opportunity to make a change. Focus on the positives – the fact that you can set a goal and start working towards it, rather than any negatives.