With Christmas being only a week away, the holiday season is coming and going before our eyes and soon enough December 31st will have arrived as well. This new year means it is time to put aside all of the good- and the bad- that has happened throughout 2017. It also means that many of us will be hastily creating a list of “new year’s resolutions” that we know deep-down will be abandoned half-way through January. But what if you really do want 2018 to be a year of progress? Below, I’ve outlined 3 sure fire ways to stick to your new year’s resolutions this season.
1. Make your goals fit nicely with your schedule.
In my experience, there are very few people who are ready to jump out of bed at 5 a.m. on some of the coldest days of the year just to rush to the gym. Making unreasonable resolutions that you know are going to be abandoned will do nothing but drag down your motivation to complete goals that are manageable. Instead of changing your entire day plan to fit in gym time, try squeezing it in a few days a week during breaks at school or in the evenings in place of lounge time.
2. Allow a few slip-ups.
Nobody’s perfect. We’ve all done it; missed one day of a fitness routine or junk food cleanse and decided to throw in the towel on the whole thing. While a cop-out may feel better immediately, in the long run it’s smart to just persevere and start again the next day, before your progress is lost. New habits can be hard to form and slip-ups are guaranteed, but those who can stick it out long-term won’t regret it.
3. Find someone to share your goals with.
Even if you’re making resolutions different from those around you, sharing your plans for the new year with someone close to you is a helpful way to stay on track with following through. Mutually checking up on each other’s progress means you and your resolution-buddy will both have added motivation to continue with the original goals set out, which means they will be one step closer to becoming a habit in your daily life.
As January 1st nears, resolution lists across the country are being written and revised time and time again. Making lifestyle changes is never a simple task, but with a few tricks at your disposal 2018 can finally be the year your list sees use beyond the first two weeks of January.