It’s the time of the
year where everyone seems to be busy in setting up new goals for the coming
year. Whether you are big on New Year’s resolutions or not, at some level, we all
will enter the New Year with the will & determination to achieve our goals.
Setting up a target to do something is the first step heading towards it. Whether your goal is to lose
weight/get healthy, be more present, or want to overall improve your life, the first
step is the decision of doing it. However, the next step is to get stick to it,
which is almost harder than deciding to it. According to some research, 80% of the New Year’s resolutions
have a very short lifespan & only work till the first week of February.
Don’t want to be in one
of that 80 %? Following five hacks will
help you to stick to your new year resolutions
1-Be Specific
Remember! Always remain specific in setting up your
goals for the New Year’s resolution. Let’s say! One of your New Year’s resolutions is to read a large number of books. Instead of saying,” I
want to read many books this year” mention the precise number of books you want
to read. Having a specific target will not only make clarity about your goal
but also helps you in making it attainable.
2- Start Small
Is your New Year’s
resolution to become more active after being a lazy potato in the entire last
year? Signing up for a gym membership
with the aim to go strictly 6 times a week seems unrealistic or may be a
little too enthusiastic. A more realistic approach would be to start from a
short walk a few times a week before adding it to more intensity. It can cause you
to burn out quickly. Will make it sustainable over the span of an entire year.
Start small actions. Map out a plan with baby steps for your New Years’
resolution that will eventually lead to your actual goal.
3- One Resolution at A Time
Have more than one
resolutions? Focus on 1 at a time. Let’s presume your new year's resolutions
are to eat clean, lose weight & travel. Eating clean & weight loss go
hand-in-hand simultaneously. But realistically, they may clash with your 3rd
resolution i.e. to travel. In the former year, focus on clean eating with losing
weight during the first half of the year & then
make travel plans in the latter half of the year.
4- Let People Know
Openly declaring your
new year's resolution adds the flavor of accountability, making you more likely
to stick to it. You don’t need to put it up publicly on social media accounts but
involve close friends & family. Discuss with them & tell them that you
are passionate about your goal. Also, ask
them for their support. It is very essential to surround yourself with
like-minded people who are supportive of your goals and are willing to help you
in achieving them.
5- Don't Aim for Perfection
Starting
your New Year resolution with the aiming
of perfection is equivalent to set yourself
for failure. Let’s get out of the perfectionist
mindset. Don’t beat yourself for eating a slice of cheesecake, when your resolution was to make better food choices. Don’t
blame yourself for not being able to hit the gym
every single day or every week a month due to your busy rituals. Be able to
forgive yourself & learn to not let one slip disturb your whole year.
Keep
above hacks in your mind while shaping up your resolutions for 2019.
Happy New Year!
Naureen Fatima
The author is the Deputy Content Coordinator of the E-Magazine
Positive Pakistan.
Motivational💯
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