Tips for Keeping Those New Year’s Resolutions Past January

2020 was a year of firsts for many people. COVID-19 hit the world hard, lockdowns ensued, and people became less healthy and more worried by the second. Most people couldn’t wait for the year to end and 2021 to start. 

If you’re like most people you set quite a few resolutions for the new year ahead. From working out to taking better care of yourself and from losing those extra pounds to reading more, goals are easy to set, and just as easy to fall back on by the time January is done. In this blog, you’ll find a few tips for helping you keep those resolutions you set to become a healthier you in this shiny new year. 

Choose a Specific Goal

Every year, it’s easy to set goals, such as losing weight, working out more, and eating healthier. However, it’s super easy to fall down on those goals as the year goes on. To combat this, try being more specific in the goal you set. For example, if you’re setting a goal to work out in the new year, how about setting a goal to work out three days a week, at a certain time instead. Make sure your goal is realistic and attainable or you’ll never be able to do it. If you’ve never worked out before, for example, you don’t want to set your goal for working out five days a week, three hours a day. That’s not realistic or healthy.

Focus on One Goal at a Time

While it’s okay to make more than one resolution, it’s best to work on one goal at a time. For example, if you make a resolution to eat healthier in the new year, you can’t just give up everything at once or expect to meet your goal right away. Start by eating a healthy breakfast in the mornings, such as egg whites and a healthy protein pancake mix, then move onto lunch and dinner when you have a better handle on not reaching for the greasy sausage or a pop-tart in the mornings instead. 

Break Your Goals Down into Manageable Chunks

Breaking your goals down into manageable chunks will keep you from becoming overwhelmed and giving up on your resolutions. For example, as with fitness goals, start small by working out 30 minutes a day, one day a week, then add minutes and a day the next week, until you get to where you want to be for your fitness needs. If you break your goals down into manageable chunks, it’s easier to accomplish those goals and not get overwhelmed while doing it. 

Don’t Repeat the Failure of the Past

The quickest way to doom yourself to failure with new year’s resolutions is by making the same exact resolution that you did last year. If you’ve failed in past years, what makes you think this year will be any different? If you do make the same resolution as last year, then think long and hard about what went wrong last time and determine not to make the same mistake twice. If at all possible, however, make a different resolution or at least modify it so that it’s doable this year. 

These are just a few tips to help you keep those new year’s resolutions you made for 2021. 2020 was a bad year for everyone, but hopefully 2021 is shaping up to be better. Even if the chaos and uncertainty continue, it’s important to try and keep the resolutions you made for your own health and well-being in the year ahead.