How To Achieve Your New Year's Resolutions
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The clock strikes midnight – the fireworks go off outside your window. Across the country, people are cheering in their respective homes. With the year that 2020’s been, everyone’s eager to usher in 2021.
Knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?
New Year’s Resolutions
If you’re like most people, you probably already have a list of resolutions ready. Maybe you plan to get healthier in 2021, to read more or to save up. Maybe your resolutions in 2021 are resolutions from last year that you’ve readopted because they went unfulfilled.
Fulfilling resolutions isn’t always easy. Many people start off the year energised and determined to see their resolutions through, only to give up halfway. They lose their motivation or find it too hard, or they already failed, so why bother trying again?
This is because people tend to approach their New Year’s resolutions with an “all or nothing” mindset.
People who adopt this mindset end up being discouraged when there is a setback that stops them from fulfilling their resolution. For instance, a person who vows to exercise for 30 minutes every single day will grow increasingly demoralised when they find themselves unable to do so. At one point, they might even give up because they failed to be consistent, and don’t see the point in trying anymore.
Setbacks are natural, especially when you’re just starting out. Instead of seeing yourself as a failure because of the setback, see how you can make up for it. Just because you indulged in that one cookie, doesn’t mean your whole diet is now ruined.
Resolutions vs Goals
What many people don’t realise is that setting a resolution is only the first step. What comes next is the reason as to why we want to fulfil that resolution. Sure, exercising more and eating healthier are things we all aspire to do, but why do you want to be healthier? To fit into those old pair of skinny jeans? To feel more active and energised? To manage a health condition? Research shows that the intention you set behind achieving your goals is paramount.
While a resolution is a decision to do or not to do something, a goal is an aim or a desired result. In a way, you could say that goals and resolutions work hand in hand. Without a specific goal in mind, your resolution will just fall flat.
When you are able to envision what you wish to achieve, you will feel more motivated to see it through. Of course, the goal you have in mind must be reasonable. Too often people think up lofty goals, only to get disappointed when they a) are unable to achieve it or b) get impatient and give up. The problem with huge aims or goals is that they often feel difficult to accomplish. However, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t set high goals for yourself.
Think Small
If your goal is one that is long-term, it’d be best for you to break it down into smaller steps. For instance, your goal may be to exercise every day for a minimum of 45 minutes in order to get more fit. This doesn’t mean you should immediately start fitting in 45 minutes at the gym to lift weights. Especially if you’re a beginner, it’s important to start out small. Start by simply taking a 5-minute walk every day. Gradually, this can turn into 10 minutes, then 15, and then 30. As this becomes routine, you can begin branching out by fitting in easy workouts or other forms of fitness regimes into your routine.
The same can be said for eating healthier. Instead of instantly switching to salads, try cutting down on the junk food you eat or reducing your sugar intake. As you see yourself making progress, you’ll feel more motivated to keep ongoing.
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Progress and Goal Tracking
However, it’s only human to lose steam or to get discouraged. This is why tracking your progress is important. This can be done through the use of a personal journal or a goal tracking app. List down your milestones and tick off each achievement and task completed on your journey. As you see your accomplishments pile up, you’ll feel more motivated to achieve your goal and stick to your resolution.
Remember to celebrate each small win. Studies show that people tend to put more value on a present reward in comparison to a future reward, a tendency referred to as present bias. A way to emulate this can be done by giving yourself small rewards after you achieve certain milestones. And of course, these rewards should not hinder the progress you’ve already made. So for instance, don’t reward a hard workout session with a slice of cake right after. Instead, indulge in that book you’ve been wanting to read or call up a friend to celebrate your progress. Sharing your resolutions with your friends and family holds you accountable, and gives you a support system that you can fall back on whenever you’re struggling or unmotivated. A support system can also be in the form of a health coach, a dietitian or even a psychologist.
“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”
-Napoleon Hill
The beginning of a new year always feels like the best time for a change. So with that said, what are your New Year’s resolutions, and how will you make them come true?
