Follow these to make your New Year successful
Written by admin on January 2nd, 2007 in Life, Messages, Thinking.
Be realistic:
The surest way to fall short of your goal is to make
your goal unattainable. For instance, resolving to never eat your
favorite desserts again could be a bad choice. Strive for a goal that
is attainable.
Plan ahead:
Don’t make your resolution on New Year’s Eve. If you
wait until the last minute, it will be based on your mind-set that
particular day. Instead it should be well planned before December 31
arrives.
Outline your plan:
Decide how you will deal with the temptation to
skip the exercise class, or just have one more cigarette. This could
include calling on a friend for help, or practicing positive thinking
and self-talk.
Make a “pro” and “con” list:
It may help to see a list of items on
paper to keep your motivation strong. Develop this list over time, and
ask others to contribute to it. Keep your list with you and refer to
it when you need help keeping your resolve.
Talk about it:
Don’t keep your resolution a secret. Tell friends
and family members who will be there to support your resolve to change
yourself for the better. The best case scenario is to find yourself a
buddy who shares your New Year’s Resolution and motivate each other.
Reward Yourself:
This doesn’t mean that if your resolution is to
diet you can eat an entire box of chocolates. Instead, celebrate your
success by treating yourself to something that you enjoy.
Track your progress:
Keep track of each small success you make
toward reaching your larger goal. Short-term goals are easier to keep,
and small accomplishments will help keep you motivated.
Don’t Beat Yourself Up:
Obsessing over the occasional slip won’t
help you achieve your goal. Do the best you can each day, and take
them one at a time.
Stick to it:
Experts say it takes about 21 days for a new activity,
such as exercising, to become a habit, and 6 months for it to become
part of your personality.
Keep trying:
If your resolution has totally run out of steam by
mid-February, don’t despair. Start over again! There’s no reason you
can’t make a “New Year’s Resolution” any time of year.
Fast Facts About New Year’s Resolutions
1. 63% of people are keeping their resolutions after two months.
2. 67% of people make three or more resolutions.
3. Top four resolutions:
i. Increase exercise
ii. Be more conscientious about work or school
iii. Develop better eating habits
iv. Stop smoking, drinking, or using drugs (including caffeine)
4. People make more resolutions to start a new habit, than to break an old one.
