New Year’s resolutions. We all make them. But how good are we really at keeping them? Those of us here at Freedom Home Care know how difficult it can be to stick to them. So, we offer a few simple tips from the experts that could make a difference in the planning and successful of your resolutions.
- Ask Yourself Why You’re Making the Resolution in the First Place
Once you ask why you actually want to make the resolution, then you can assess if whether your reasons for doing it are the right ones. When we find ourselves doing something because we think we “should,” it may hinder our ability to see things through to completion. Research shows that if there’s a solid reason why we want to change something and the level of motivation we have to reach our goals is high, then we tend to stay with them.
- What Are Your Barriers
Also, determining what the barriers are for not having started your resolution can be helpful. Say you want to begin walking once a day and for some reason you just haven’t found the time to do it, examine your schedule to see what you spend the most time doing. If you have a large block of time that consists of leisurely activities, resolve to spend one hour walking before you sit down to read the morning paper. Be sure to pencil into your schedule, avoid any distractions and be consistent.
- Give It The 30 Day Test
Try not to look at your goal squarely in the eye. Commit to your plan for one month. This way, you know if it’s one that is helpful or not. You can also determine if whether there’s anything that need to be tweaked or if you need to try a different approach. If walking once a day is your resolution and you find at the end of 30 days you’re more energized and in better shape, then you know that your initial plan was the right one.
- Find An Accountability Partner
Find someone that you’re close to or that you trust to help you stay focused and keep you on the right track. If that person has a similar goal, we suggest pursuing your new activity together.
- What’s your strategy?
Now that you’ve determined the reason for your resolution, identified your barriers, and are resolved to stay accountable – you’ll need to develop a strategy. Experts say that we’re often more successful if we come up an “if-then” strategy. Having an “if-then” strategy is like saying to yourself, “If something arises, then I will do (this) to try to avoid it.” When you expect that there will be obstacles along the way, planning ahead helps minimize road blocks, leading to long-term success.
Happy 2016 and good luck!
