IT’S New Years resolutions for 2017 time and everybody begins to think about getting rid of bad habits or bettering themselves, following weeks of indulging on guilty pleasures and using ‘It’s Christmas!’ as an excuse.
But soon we’ll start to hear, ‘New year, new me!’ although how many of us actually stick to our New Years resolutions?
Amongst the most common New Years resolutions for 2017 are: To lose weight, join the gym, quit smoking or drinking, save money, give up chocolate, learn something new etc.
But a survey carried out by ComRes for Bupa last year, showed that 63% of Brits admitted to failing to keep a New Years resolution in the past, in comparison to the tiny 12% that managed to successfully achieve their last New Years resolution.
So why do so many of us fail to achieve our resolutions?
Most resolutions involve a lifestyle change, but changing something that has become routine nature or going completely teetotal on a ‘bad habit’ is unrealistic, or very easy to relapse just once and therefor give up completely.
For those that are serious about committing to a New Years resolutions for 2017, here are some helpful tips for setting and achieving your goals.
Don’t set too many:
Stick to one resolution that you can focus your attention on and make it something that you are truly motivated to achieve. If you set yourself too many resolutions, it’s a big and sudden change to your life and easily setting you up for failure.
But, if you are adamant that this year you want to give up smoking and join the gym, save money for a dream trip and this and that, good for you! Just focus on them one at a time.
Clearly define your resolution:
Don’t be too broad about what you want to achieve. If your resolution is to ‘be fitter’, define to yourself what you really mean by that. Is your goal to loose a stone, or loose 5 inches from your waist? Or is it to be able to lift 200kg, or run 10 miles in 1 hour?
Plan a gradual schedule:
If your resolution is to quit smoking, don’t just go teetotal come January 1st. Set benchmarks through out the year. For example – if you usually smoke 10 a day, cut down to 9 a day throughout January. Then 8 a day throughout February… And so on.
This method can similarly be applied to other resolutions too.
Be realistic:
When you choose your New Years resolution, make sure it is something that is achievable and realistic. So, if you’re earning £25,000 a year, and you want to buy a brand new car that costs as much as you earn, realistically, it’s not going to happen.
The simpler your resolution, the easier it will be to achieve.
Be simple:
If you are one of the many people that easily loose motivation, make your resolution really simple. A little can go a long way.
If you want to be healthier, have 1 sugar in your brew instead of 2. At the end of the year, you will have consumed considerably less sugar and it’s likely that you’ll be in the minority of people that actually stuck to their New Years resolution.
Don’t follow the crowd:
Don’t go for a resolution just because everyone else is.
Think outside the box and choose something that you really want to do to benefit yourself.
Tell someone:
Telling someone your New Years resolution will provide you with support and encouragement. The more people you tell, the more motivated you’re likely to be to achieve your goal because you won’t want people to see you fail.
As embarrassing as it might be, announce your resolution on social media and regularly update friends and followers of your progress.
Take part in organised events:
Throughout the year there are many charity campaigns that often link with popular New Years resolutions, so why not join them and be supported by thousands of other people that take part.
If you want to be healthier, take part in Veganuary and go vegan for the whole month of January.
If your resolution is to do more to help others, take part in Manuary and grown a beard in January to raise awareness for head and neck cancer.
Don’t give up:
So maybe you forgot to go the gym once or twice when you told yourself you would do 2 hours a week. It’s not the end of the world, and remember, nobody is perfect. Don’t make a temporary failure an excuse to give up entirely.
If you slip up during your New Years resolutions for 2017, simply keep at it and start again.
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