Making Your Resolutions Stick

Are you part of the one third of Canadians who made New Year’s resolutions? And now that it’s mid-January, is your motivation to keep those resolutions beginning to wane? Don’t fear! Keep reading for pointers on how to stick to your resolutions.

Make them more specific
Be clear about your intentions whatever they may be. For example, did you resolve to exercise more but are already finding it difficult to keep up with your program? Now is the time to revisit your goal and specify what you mean by “exercise more”. Making your goal a measurable one, such as doing 30 minutes of cardio three times a week, will allow you to better track your progress.

Buddy up with a friend
You just found out that one of your friends has made the same resolution as you. Why not suggest to her to make the resolution a shared goal among the two of you? The next time either of you begin to falter you’ll then have each other to depend on for advice and support to keep at it.

Tell your loved ones
If you’ve kept your resolutions to yourself, it’s time to let the proverbial cat out of the bag. Let your family members and friends know about your intended areas of self-improvement. With your loved ones to be held accountable to, you’ll get that extra bit of nudging and encouragement you need to persevere and meet your goal.

Prioritize your resolutions
So you intend to lose ten pounds, find a new job by springtime, drink eight glasses of water a day and spend an extra hour with the family each night? Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to make over every part of your life all at once. Rank your resolutions in order of importance and then concentrate on the one or two you’ve put at the top of your list. Only start on another resolution when you’ve made progress with the ones you’ve decided are top priority.

Use visual reminders
Put sticky notes around the house such as on your bathroom mirror or on the fridge. Make a sign to put on the wall or create a screensaver for your computer that states your resolution. Writing down and posting your resolutions will help to keep them at the forefront of your mind.

Reward yourself
Have you already lost five pounds from the overall twenty you’ve set out to lose? That is definitely worth celebrating! Go ahead and do something special for yourself like getting a manicure or pedicure at the spa. Big or small, it’s important to acknowledge and reward any milestones you achieve. This will keep you motivated to reach your end goal.

Give it Time
As with anything that’s worth having, achieving your resolution is going to require your patience. You may want to see results immediately but keep in mind that it’s only been a couple weeks since your goal was created. Be patient and do your best at following the rules that will help you to keep your resolution.