How to stick to your New Year resolutions?

Hey all compliments of the season. It is that time year when we all start thinking of our New Year resolutions and I am sure many of you would even be ready with the resolutions.

What is this New Year resolutions and Why?

Well it’s a promise that we make to ourselves or with our near and dear ones to kick a bad habit and imbibe a good change for the better.

A  New Year resolution can be:

• Weight loss
• Get fit and regular exercise
• Eating healthy
• Joining yoga class,
• Quit the butt (Giving up smoking)
• Quitting excess alcohol consumption etc
• Involve with some sport and many more such things

More often than not most resolutions stick around health and lifestyle. What is difficult though is to stick to the resolution made. It’s not easy to keep the enthusiasm. It’s not easy to maintain the same motivation level throughout the year. Discipline is hard to come by. Most people don’t feel motivated enough and they give up within few days. It takes focus, planning and determination to stick with resolutions. It takes the same amount of time to change a particular habit.

How to stick by your New Year resolution and make it successful?

Golden Rule:  Make your goal achievable do not aim for goal which is too difficult to achieve

• Once you have decided on your achievable resolution write it down. Writing it down makes greater connection between your thinking self and your doing self. And makes the resolution more real that it being only in your head.
• Change one behaviour at a time. Replacing unhealthy behaviour with healthier ones require time
• Fitness cannot be your short term goal.
• If you want to eat junk food think what are the benefits you will derive from it. It’s the same as thinking before making any financial investments. Occasionally you can include a piece of Pizza or a burger but not daily.
• If you are looking to reduce 20 Kgs then achieve the target by reducing 2-3 kgs in a month. It is not practical to lose 20 kgs in 2 months because it took years to accumulate all that fat and it will only go slowly.
• If you want to quit smoking and you are smoking 20 sticks in a day then reduce it gradually. You cannot stop immediately because it will take some time for your body and mind to adapt to the change.
• If you intend to start working out, yoga or any other activity in the morning then begin with 3 days a week instead of 7 days a week.
• For working out most have the issue of waking up early. Try to start at a time comfortable to you. If you wake up daily at 8 am but plan to start working out at 5 am then it will seldom happen because your circadian system will take time to adjust. Instead try to wake up at 7 am which is practical and you will continue for long time.
• Be positive while thinking about your achievable goal. Instead of saying I cannot do something, say i feel much better doing this
• Always tell your near and dear ones about your resolution and seek their support in order to successfully achieve your goal.
• Review your progress and reward yourself on the first target achieved

Lastly, I would say do not wait for New Year. New Year is just another day. Start working on your resolution immediately.

There is the famous saying that ‘Whatever you want to do tomorrow do it today and whatever you want to do today do it Now’.

Go right ahead and work on your Resolutions for the New Year.