New Year’s Routines And How To Stick To Them
It is that time of year again. Gyms are about to be packed once more, diets picked back up, and resolutions made.
We can’t be the only ones who have sat down, made a list of things that they would like to accomplish, and then maybe only gotten one or two of their items done and then thrown the rest into next year’s list…Right?
Too often we end up standing in our own way when it comes to self improvement or maintenace of the physical, financial, emotional, mental, or spiritual aspects of our lives. A lot of the time, sticking to these things is needing to overcome a combination of obstacles.
In order to make your resolution stick, you need to be motivated to do it, capable of doing it, and you need the opportunities in your life present to make it happen. The purpose of this blog post is to provide you with ways to implement healthy and efficient routines in your life, that go beyond New Year’s Resolutions.
6 Ways To Stick To Your Routines All Year Long
One of the biggest things about sticking to your resolutions is to only pick a few.
* When we add 20+ items to a list we become overwhelmed and it’s a lot easier to lose track of our actual goals. “Setting small, attainable goals throughout the year, instead of a singular, overwhelming goal on January 1 can help you reach whatever it is you strive for,” says psychologist Lynn Bufka, PhD.
* Start small and realistic, something like exercising for a minimum of three days a week. Something that is relatively obtainable to you in order to prepare you for larger goals. This is one of the best ways to keep yourself motivated because it keeps you in the habit of believing in yourself.
* When you prove to yourself that you can accomplish a series of things, no matter how small, you’re showing that you’re capable of change and growth. Our brains respond incredibly well to the positive stimulus and it encourages us to keep going!
Another big point is, don’t punish yourself.
* There is nothing wrong with self discipline, but don’t let it escalate to the point of becoming borderline abusive. We all make mistakes and they are called goals for a reason, if it were easy, we wouldn’t have to work for it.
* Do your best to go into this new year understanding that having goals is a wonderful thing, but you won’t always accomplish everything you want on the first try. It takes repetition and time to change behaviors so don’t be too hard on yourself.
* Take every day one step at a time. Admitting that you’re capable of failing, but picking yourself right back up is just as important as winning, or accomplishing your goals.
If one of your goals is something along the lines of quitting a nicotine habit, or anything else that can be difficult, don’t be afraid to reach out to others.
* You can join a support group or find a family member/friend that is also trying to make that change in their life. When you feel supported and have others to talk to, making life changes happens a lot easier. You have people to reach out to when things get tough, that is so important when it comes to sticking these things out.
* There is an incredible amount of strength in admitting when you need help, even when it feels scary to do so. Everyone around you has struggled at some point, you’re not alone in needing an extra hand or a shoulder to cry on.
Pick someone to be a role model in your life. Role models can be people of any age, just someone that you truly respect.
* Think of someone that you admire, whether in your personal life or someone of celebrity status. If you find another person taking the steps or making the changes that you want to make; follow their lead.
* Pick someone who you deeply respect and adopt a habit of theirs. You’d be surprised how much easier it is to make those changes when you see the real life results.
* A role model is someone that you can hope to be more like, thus encouraging healthy amounts of change in your life.
Implement the use of S.M.A.R.T goals when thinking of your resolutions.
* S.M.A.R.T goals are; Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results-focused, and Time-Bound. This way you can see when progress is made and how to adjust for the most successful outcome.
* When you apply the S.M.A.R.T formula to your goals, they become much easier to obtain. This is another way of checking in with yourself and monitoring your progress towards the things you hope to accomplish or change.
* When you can see a specific metric to track yourself by, you take any guess work or second guessing out of your goals. Remember who you are doing this for!
Something to consider is how your resolutions may be thwarted by competing desires.
* Let’s say a goal of yours is to lose weight, well you’ll have to compete with your eating habits and physical exercise habits in order to obtain your goal.
* Being aware of possible challenges is a great way to keep yourself on track with any goal. If you’re trying to quit smoking, know that going out to a bar where people tend to smoke is going to be an obstacle for you.
* You won’t be able to avoid all potential triggers but at least try and navigate them. It is essential to remind yourself why these are goals in the first place, never lose sight of your motivation.
* You are the only one who is responsible for you, the goals you hope to meet 100% affect you and that is enough of a reason to give them your all.
At the end of the day you are capable of almost anything you put your mind to.
Set reasonable goals for yourself and track your progress. Break down large goals into smaller pieces and knock one down every day. 2022 is your year!
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