It can be hard to keep up with your New Years resolution, when school is soaking up a lot of your free time. However, it is important to remember that the New Year isn’t about changing yourself all together. It is a time for people to reflect on their past year’s behavior and promise to make positive lifestyle changes.
“Setting small goals throughout the year, instead of one over whelming goal on January 1 can help you reach whatever goal you set,” junior Jesus Delgado said. “It is not the amount time of the change that matters, but the effort you put in changing it.”
Here are some tips for attaining your resolutions.
1. Be realistic:
The surest way to fall short of your goal is to make your goal unattainable. For instance, resolving to never eat your favorite food again is setting you up to fail. Instead, strive for a goal that is attainable, such as avoiding it more often than you do now.
2. Plan ahead:
Don’t make your resolution on New Year’s Eve. If you wait until the last minute, it will be based on your mindset that particular day. Instead, it should be planned well before December 31 arrives.
3. Outline your plan:
Decide how you will deal with the temptation to skip that exercise class or have that piece of cake. This could include calling on a friend for help, practice positive thinking and selftalk, or reminding yourself how your “bad” will affect your goal.
4. Make a Pros and Cons list:
It may help to see a list of items on paper to keep your motivation strong. Develop this list over time, and ask others to contribute to it. Keep your list with you and refer to it when you need help keeping your resolve.
5. Talk about it:
Don’t keep your resolution a secret. Tell friends and family members who will be there to support your resolve to change yourself for the better or improve your health. The best case scenario is to find a buddy who shares your New Year’s resolution and motivate each other.
6. Reward yourself:
This doesn’t mean that you can eat an entire box of chocolates if your resolution is to eat a better diet. Instead, celebrate your success by treating yourself to something you enjoy that doesn’t contradict your resolution. If you have been sticking to your promise to eat better, for example, reward yourself with new fitness clothing or by going to a movie with a friend.
7 . Track your progress:
Keep track of each small success. Short term goals are easier to keep, and each small accomplishment will help keep you motivated. Instead of focusing on losing 30 pounds, focus on losing the first five. Keep a food journal to help you stay on track, and reward yourself for each five pounds lost.
8. Don’t beat yourself up for it:
If you make a mistake or cheat, getting upset with yourself won’t help you achieve your goal. Do the best you can each day, and take one day at a time.
9. Stick to it:
Experts say it takes about 21 days for a new activity to become a habit and six months for it to become part of your personality. It won’t happen overnight, so be persistent and patient!
These 9 tips can really help you when it comes to sticking to your resolution. Remember If you have run out of steam when it comes to keeping your resolution by mid February, don’t despair. Start over again! Recommit yourself for 24 hours. You can do anything for 24 hours. The 24 hour time period will soon build on each other and, before you know it, you will be back on track.
