It can take 66 days to make a new habit automatic. So, the earlier you consider and commit to the New Year’s resolutions that matter to you, the better.
Save more money? Spend more time with those you love? The holidays are a perfect time to establish those habits. In January, you’ll have a fatter wallet, more meaningful memories, and more motivation for the future than you could usually muster up, once the holiday magic is gone.
New Year’s resolutions can be much more than a momentary rush of “I can do it,” only to be followed by “eh…never mind.” It’s important to strategize for your best chance to realize the changes you’ve been hoping to make.
Resolutions can be successes, truly accomplished goals, if you know what works and what doesn’t. You’re probably closer than you think to living the life you dream about. Let’s take a look at the secrets of resolution success:
Utilize and maximize the services that could provide advice to help you. Consulting with a professional can provide you with concrete information and tips to help get a resolution off the ground. Consider connecting with a doctor or nutritionist for a clear idea of what weight loss tips would work best for your health situation. Try talking to a financial advisor for solid savings and investment advice to help support financial resolutions. Accept help from those with expertise for a strong start.
Organize your resolutions into short-term, mid-term. and long-term goals. Write resolutions down. Make them real and concrete, and post them somewhere visible, as a sign of commitment. For example, break your goals into manageable parts, so you remain motivated to get to the next level of achievement. Breaking your goal down facilitates accountability and feels much more doable.
Energize: Find people who push you to achieve your goals. You’re much less likely to be distracted, or bored by the process of reaching your goal, or lose motivation with a cheering section behind you. Share your experiences with loved ones. Try a support group of like minded goal-setters.
Prioritize: Choose one behavior to focus on at a time. Resolutions suffer when you attempt to multitask change. Avoid overwhelming yourself because it could cause you to give up. Change is a process. Each undesirable habit requires time and attention, to be effectively assessed, and successfully altered.
Personalize: Plan ahead in ways that fit your life best and make your goals more achievable. Resolutions fail when we are too vague. Customizing your resolutions will help you keep them realistic and less stressful. The goal, and realizing it, should become part of your real life. Develop schedules, activities, meals, or appointments in ways that will not overburden you or your loved ones. Your chances of success will be much more possible, and the road there more enjoyable.
Empathize: Don’t beat yourself up. Changing a habit, or the way you see yourself, is a big deal. You may not get through the process without a few mistakes or bad days. That’s just fine. Extend yourself some self-compassion, and resolve to get back in the game. When you do reach your goal, throw yourself a celebration.
When others leave their resolutions behind, unaccomplished in February, you’ll be able to celebrate your success.
Denise Kautzer is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and a Certified Public Accountant whose practice is located in St. Paul, MN. You can view her website at www.denisekautzer.com or contact her at denise@denisekautzer.com