How to stick to your New Year’s resolutions

New Year is the time for a fresh start, and millions of people make resolutions each year. There are definite themes, with many people focusing on making positive changes in their lives. 

Some of the most common resolutions include: 

• Learning a new skill
• Getting more exercise
• Losing weight
• Saving more money
• Quitting smoking
• Spending more time with family
• Travelling more

But, despite this, a huge number of people don’t continue with their resolutions for long.. In fact, one study found that only 46% were successful. 

So, if you’re trying to make changes in the coming year, here are our tips for sticking to them. 

1. Write down your goals

Writing down your goals can help you remember them and stay motivated. It also provides a consistent reminder to you, especially if you’re feeling distracted. 

One of the biggest problems with sticking to resolutions is resistance to change. Writing them in a journal, online note, email, or poster makes it easier to overcome this obstacle. 

2. Make sure your goal inspires you

Another factor that really affects how likely you are to stick to a resolution is how passionate you are about it. When you set a goal, make sure it’s something that drives you, not other people. 

Carefully consider your dreams, aspirations, and priorities in life before making your resolutions. This will greatly improve the chances of you making long-term changes. 

3. Make your goals more manageable

Larger goals can seem daunting. One way to combat this is to break them down into smaller, more manageable chunks that are easier to tackle. 

Once you know what you want to accomplish, try creating a list of sub-tasks, then prioritizing them. You can even use a tool like a mind map or planner to organize your time. 

4. Get into the right mindset

Changing your habits is hard. But, it can be done. Before diving into the New Year with your objectives in place, it’s important to take some time to get into the right mindset. 

Before making changes, reflect on the past year and think about what progress you’ve made and areas you would like to improve in. 

Even if you haven’t made the progress you would have liked to, find ways to celebrate! Staying positive makes it much easier to make changes in the future.