Anyone can make New Year's Resolutions... here are 5 Tips to KEEP your New Year's Resolutions!
Hi guys!
Making New Year's Resolutions always feels so good. It's an easy way to start off the new year with a jolt of inspiration. It feels hopeful and empowering. I've made a list of personal and professional goals this year that I am ready to tackle.
The sad truth is making making resolutions is easy, but keeping them is an entirely different story. Nearly 80% of resolutions never make it past January. That's so sad! But with a little work ahead of time, we can beat the odds and actually keep those resolutions. Here are my 5 best tips to not be one of the 80% and actually KEEP your New Year’s Resolutions.
5 Tips to Keep New Year's Resolutions
1- Schedule for Success
Whether you are trying to eat better or exercise more, you will need to make time to accomplish your goals. The first step to success is to schedule time for your resolution. Buy a great planner and actually carve out time for what you need to do. If you are a digital person, do it online but make sure you will actually check it. I'm a paper planner fan all the way.
If you are trying to eat healthy or cook at home more, schedule time on Sunday to plan your meals and shop. When you get home exhausted during the week all you will have to do is cook and not play the "What are we going to eat game" and dinner will be ready on time. Start your meal planning with my recipe page!
If you want to start exercising, decide what type you want to try and schedule it like a business appointment. Be realistic about your time though and don't try to do too much all at once. Build up to your goals, but commit 100% to what you schedule.
2- Tools for Success
Make sure you have the right tools for success. If you want to start running, buy a few running outfits and get fitted for running shoes. If you want to eat healthier buy the proper cooking tools like steamers and non-stick pans. Tomorrow I'm sharing 10 healthy cooking essentials you can add to your kitchen.
Whatever your goal is, make sure you have the tools for success.
3- Set Intermediate Goals
Big goals like losing 30 pounds can be overwhelming, but smaller goals like losing 5 pounds are manageable. Set several smaller goals over time that will eventually get you where you want to be. Don't be afraid to dream big, but still set yourself up for success.
4- Get an App
As much as I love my paper planner, I know how powerful technology can be. Find an app on your phone to keep you engaged and motivated. If your resolution is to run or exercise, find a app to track your workouts. If you want to cook more use an app to help you grocery shop.
5- Reward Yourself
A little bribery works just as well on adults as kids. Tell yourself you can pick out a new purse, outfit or gadget when you finally reach your goal. That just may be the extra motivation you need to keep your New Year’s Resolution. No shame in that!
I'm off to start working on a plan to make this happen for myself. I hope you all have a fabulous day!
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Your turn!
Do you end up breaking or keeping your resolutions?
Any tips to add to my list?
wowthefit says
Thanks or your nice post. I did motivate me on fitness journey.
Zee says
Great tips, especially the one about intermediate goals. Long term goals can sometimes be overwhelming and should be divided into small intermediate goals.
Ryan @ Totalfitnessfocus says
I gave up on New Years Resolutions years ago - they just didn't work for me and I'd always given up on them by the 3rd week of January! These days I write yearly S.M.A.R.T. goals and break them down into monthly, weekly, and daily goals. It's a bit more work but I find it works better for me!
Michael Gym says
Thank you for the great post! Great photos!
Karan Zale says
Hmm, this will help. Every year I promised myself to lose that extra kg but, enthusiasm goes away in a week. I will give me best these time and your tips might play a big role in shaping it.
subana says
I think your trace of defining middle of the road objectives is extremely useful. It's great to have those snapshots of feeling achieved inside bigger objectives. Seek 2018 brings great things after you,Julie! also you can visit best weighted vest
Michael @ Garage Gym Power says
Really good tips how to keep yourself motivated.
Another tip what I liked:
Tell someone about your plan! Eg. If you exercise after work, tell your partner that you are heading o the gym after work. You will be less tempted to just skip it if you have to explain to someone else why you did not go. 😀
Erinn says
Love the idea of making a schedule! I'm so much more productive when I make a plan.
And rewarding yourself is so important! It's definitely not all or nothing.
JulieWunder says
Me tooooo (as I sit on the couch and do random stuff on the computer... 🙂 )
Debbie@debbiethisandthat.com says
I think your hint of setting intermediate goals is really helpful. It's good to have those moments of feeling accomplished within larger goals. Hope 2018 brings good things for you,Julie!
JulieWunder says
You too Debbie!
Emily @ Pizza & Pull-Ups says
Treating your workouts like business appointments is a great idea!
JulieWunder says
Totally! Thanks Emily!
Stacie @ SimplySouthernStacie says
I'm all about rewarding myself! Not in the normal ways though, I guess. For me, some of the goals I set are rewards within themselves like setting a PR or visiting a new state.
JulieWunder says
I feel the same way. I think the two of us love to travel so much the GOING is the prize!
Renee @ Bendiful Blog says
making them is the easy part sticking to them is always tough!
JulieWunder says
I agree!
Shanna Rogers says
I think number 5 is the reason I could not continue to set resolutions. I stopped setting them, now I just call them goals! 🙂
Great post
- Shanna
JulieWunder says
That's a great idea! Some years I will set one goal and then finish and then set another.
Rick Hill says
Happy New Year, Julie! And to the hubs as well! One of my goals for 2015 is to meet you in person (we have mutual friends!) And don't forget: August 21, 2017...the total eclipse of the sun in WNC!
Rick
JulieWunder says
Only 2 years left!
Danyelle Musselman says
Great tips Julie… now if I could only figure out what my New Year's Resolution is, I'll be set. lol!
JulieWunder says
Haha! If I didn't have the blog to keep me in line, I'd be in inspired!
Jaime says
One of my goals was to run a 5k as a family - we took care of that on January 1. 🙂 Happy New Year!
JulieWunder says
Awesome! Sounds like a lot of fun!
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner says
I'm not a big resolutions person but I am into small tweaks. Scheduling is key for me and I always reward myself!
JulieWunder says
Me too 🙂
Heather @Fit n Cookies says
Fantastic tips! I love the rewarding yourself. I need to get better at that one 😉 Haha
JulieWunder says
Yes you do! You work hard 🙂
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
Great list and all your pictures make me smile - girl power! I'm definitely looking into apps more to save time and help me out!
JulieWunder says
Woop! Love girl power! Thanks so much Pamela!
Blane Sherer says
Excellent tips to help with keeping those New
Year's Resolutions.
I'm thinking about the cold weather that will
be here the middle of the week. Brrrr !
JulieWunder says
Thanks Blane!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
Great tips Julie! I need to get better at scheduling my workouts instead of just hoping they happen.
JulieWunder says
Thanks Sommer!
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
I definitely to make sure that my resolutions are ones that I can incorporate into my daily life. Rather than particular deadline goals. I also think that I am just trying to make overall improvements of the big stuff--no longer juts resolving to give up picking at my nails, though that would be lovely....
JulieWunder says
Haha. Don't givenup the dream Susie!
Dan Rathbone says
I've enjoyed reading your articles and recipes very much in 2014 and looking forward to more this year. I've missed your cheerfulness & smile on tv-13, but am happy to know that you are well. keep up the great blog and best wishes from a weather spotter on Fines Creek 🙂 Dan
JulieWunder says
Thank you so much Dan! I really appreciate your support!
Dan Steadman says
didn't make any, but got my training for Asheville back on track
JulieWunder says
Sounds like a great plan!