How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions
With the New Year ahead, nearly half of Americans have already decided on their goals for 2017. However, only eight percent are successful in achieving these goals by the end of the year. Here are helpful tips to help you successfully achieve your New Year’s resolutions (whether or not you make them at the start of the year).
- Set small goals– Having big goals isn’t a bad thing but taking the little steps to get there helps you achieve them. According to Jonathan M. Jackson, director of the Center for Psychological Services and Practicum Training at theDerner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, you’ll be more successful if you commit to modest, measurable improvements that are maintained over time.
- Remind yourself of your goals – It’s really easy to forget what your goals are and why you wanted to make changes in the first place. Whether you decide to write them down on paper or keep them in your phone, be sure your goals are easily seen and remembered.
- Make new habits – Change starts when we choose to start. Take the time to add to (or adjust) your schedule so you can focus on what you want to achieve.
- Tell people– Connecting with people who have the same goal or have already achieved that goal helps to motivate you and also hold you accountable. May McCarthy, author of The Path to Wealth, says finding people, stories, and situations similar to the goals you want to achieve bring a sense of familiarity, which can be essential to sticking with it.
