10 Tips to Keep your New Year’s Resolutions
Tired of abandoning your New Year’s resolutions? Make 2024 different.
I am sure you made resolutions in the past when a new year kicks in. But in a month or so, you lost your motivation, and your life went back to the way they were.
You are not alone. Research shows that only 9% of people complete their New Year’s resolutions. But 23% of people quit by the end of the first week, and 43% quit by the end of January.
Every year, you promise that this year will be different. But you quit anyway.
So, if you’re determined to make this year 2024 different and stick to your resolutions, here are 10 great tips to help you stay on track.
Set realistic goals
If you have read my previous articles on Medium, you know I have mentioned this a couple of times. Setting unrealistic goals most often leads to failure because they feel overwhelming and make you quit. It’s very tempting to set up lots of plans. But you shouldn’t do it. Set realistic and attainable goals. Instead of aiming for a complete life change, break down your goals into smaller manageable tasks. This will surely increase your chance of success.
Prioritize your resolutions
Working on multiple goals all at once can lead to burnout. You must prioritize your goals and focus on one or two at a time. Once you’ve successfully integrated into your routine, you can move on to the next set of resolutions.
Be specific
Be specific about what you want to achieve. Instead of saying reading every day, say read 30 minutes per day. You can also specify the time you want to read.
Share your goals
Accountability can be a powerful motivator. You can share your resolutions with friends or family. You can also share them on social media. Share your progress with someone. This will encourage you to continue.
Celebrate small wins
Don’t wait until you’ve achieved your ultimate goal to celebrate. As you’re going to break down your goals into smaller tasks, there will be many small victories along the way. Acknowledge and celebrate those small victories. Recognizing these achievements will boost your morale, whether it’s sticking to your workout routine for a week or resisting the temptation to eat fast foods.
Learn from setback
Setbacks are inevitable. You will fall out of track along the way. If you do, come back and start again where you left it. Also, identify the triggers that led to the setback and avoid them the next time. The road to success isn’t a straight line.
Create a routine
The motivation you will have at the beginning of the year will fade away soon. What will keep you going is habit. And habit comes from following a routine. Consistency is the key when it comes to forming a new habit. Do something for at least 21 days straight at the same time every day to form a habit.
Stay flexible
It’s okay to modify your resolutions as circumstances change as long as the overall objective remains the same. Life is unpredictable. Sometimes, unexpected things can happen. Also, you will learn new things along the way that you weren’t aware of before. These things can demand changes in your existing plan. Change the plan accordingly.
Use technology to help you
There are lots of apps and tools to help you track your goals. Notions templates can be of great help. Whether it’s a fitness app, habit tracker, or anything similar that can help you stay organized and motivated, use it.
Reflect and adjust
Once a week, assess your progress. Make necessary adjustments based on the assessment. Figure out what’s working and what isn’t. Make necessary changes to ensure that you stay on the path to success.
Conclusion
Remember, you can’t keep your New Year’s resolutions without persistence. Your chance of success will skyrocket if you can successfully turn your resolutions into lasting habits. So good luck for 2024. Enough is enough. Let’s be different this year.
