5 Tips to Get Your New Year’s Resolution to Stick
So, it’s been a few weeks since you’ve set those 2020 resolutions. Maybe they’ve gone really well and your habits are beginning to shift, or maybe you’ve messed up a few times but are determined to make it work out.
Wherever you are, we believe that change happens when you commit to a goal and work hard at it. At the same time, hard work doesn’t always mean smart work and we’re all about working with more efficacy. Habit building has been studied time and time again, so we’ve compiled the five best tips from experts to help you to get those New Year’s resolutions to stick!
1. Set Clear Intentions
Get extremely clear on exactly why you’ve set these resolutions and allow that to be your motivation.
Is your goal to get more exercise? Figure out your why. Maybe it’s because daily exercise has been proven to increase longevity and you want to be there for your family as long as you can. Maybe it’s because exercise will help boost your productivity so that you can perform better at work and take that next promotion. Maybe it’s because you’ve always a healthy and fit body. Whatever the reason, hoan in on your why and make it a point to remind yourself every day.
2. Start Ridiculously Small
Break your goal down into ridiculously small components. Make the first step so easy that you have absolutely no reason not to do it. Once you’ve mastered that initial habit, begin to tack on to it.
Breaking your goal or resolution into small steps makes it easier to navigate and less overwhelming. A small habit is also easier to add on to an existing habit (which makes it more likely to stick).
For example, if your resolution is to eat healthier, maybe your small goal is to incorporate more fruit at lunch. You can then stack this habit with your lunch-eating habit so that you finish every lunch with a small piece of fruit.
3. Commit to Thirty Days or Run It As An Experiment
30 days is enough time to fall into a groove with habit-formation. While the actual habit itself might take longer to develop, this time frame at least gets you accommodated to the process of forming a new habit. During this period, it can also be helpful to run your resolution with the mindset of conducting an experiment.
Adopting this mindset allows you to withhold judgement and takes the pressure off the outcome. Experiments can’t succeed or fail–they just have different results that might provide you with insight on how to better change your habit.
Another often overlooked tool is scheduling. Actually block out time in your calendar to practice this habit because once it’s marked in, it becomes as important as all the other tasks on your to-do list. Make it a priority because you are a priority.
4. Be Imperfect
Know that mistakes and failures are a part of life and they’re expected when you’re trying to make a change. Forgive yourself when errors occur, learn from the lessons, and jump back on it.
5. “Never Miss Twice”
Make this your new motto. Consistency is key when it comes to getting your habit or resolution to stick. Yes, we’re human so it’s okay to miss a day but make the commitment to never miss two. You’ll feel better about keeping your word and it’ll take less time for the habit to form.
Well, there you have it! We hope that these 5 tips will help you to stick to those resolutions! Have you ever used any of these in the past? Are there any that we missed? We’d love to hear in the comments down below!
