Sticking to your resolutions can be hard. We’re here to help with 5 ways that will allow you to stick to your New Years Resolution.

1. CLARITY/SPECIFICITY:

You don’t even have to make any resolutions, which can be a huge sense of relief and start your year happier because you have nothing to prove to anyone, most of all yourself. But if you do decide to make one or more, make them very specific—what I like to call, The Big Reach.

If you just say, I want to lose weight, it’s a nebulous way of saying nothing really.

What you should be saying is… I want to lose 5 pounds in the next two months, or 30 pounds by September 1st.

2. SUPPORT AND REFLECTION:

The second element of sticking to your resolutions and finding happiness in your achievement is to surround yourself with supportive people who can reflect back to you along the way. When you are struggling, when you feel like giving up, when you have a bad day, it is helpful to have a support group. Even one person can deliver positive and uplifting encouragement.

3. TOOLS:

Now that you have specifically outlined your New Year’s Resolution (ideally not more than 2), you need to adopt tools in order to help you get there.

If you want to lose 5 pounds by March, what tools can you put in place?

-Sign up for a fun, motivating exercise class at least 3 times a week.

-Work out with others

-Walk for 1.5 hours 3 days a week (or jog for 1 hour)

-Join a specific eating meal program

-Cut out two items from your diet

-Bread and sugar

-Avoid alcohol and large portions

-Eat less and more often

-Eat a light dinner and eat early

-Reward yourself for each pound with a small portion of one of the items you have given up

These are some specific tools you can put into place to help you lose the 5 pounds.

Whatever your resolution, you need the tools. And then you need to….

4. COMMIT:

The best way to commit to your resolution is to set up a daily routine that you follow. Once you’re in that routine it will feel natural. For example when you first start going to the gym it seems like a hassle and not much fun. As it becomes routine it’s still not fun, but you start to develop a desire to go and it becomes easier at that point.

5. THE JOURNEY:

In order to stick to and achieve your New Year’s Resolutions, you have to take joy in the journey. Each step forward brings joy and happiness. Engage in the moment. Live for today, not for the eventual achievement of the goal. That way, if you take a step back, it’s OK, because you understand that life has ebbs and flows. You just get back to your routine.

Some ways to stay in the moment include:

· Positive self-talk

· Meditation

· Affirmations

· Gratitude

· Morning rituals

· Stopping to enjoy the moments throughout your day that give you comfort.

Before you know it you will have achieved your specific resolution, will have had a blast along the way, and will be moving on to your next one.

Article by Jody Miller