Tips for Achieving your New Year's Resolution

The New Year feels like a new beginning, which is why so many people often set lofty resolutions during these times. While this practice can sometimes lead people to bite off more than they can chew, going after solutions can also present great opportunities to overcome struggles with willpower, determination, and ingenuity. Perceptions of the success of these resolutions vary. In one study, only around 12% of people who make New Year's resolutions felt that they successfully achieved their goals. While many people think that they don't achieve their resolution goals, one study showed that those who set New Year's resolutions are ten times more likely to change their behavior than people who don't make these yearly goals. What can you do to make it more likely that you will keep your next resolution? Here are some tips that may help you beat the odds.                      
Choose a Specific, Achievable Goal

Every year, millions of adults resolve to "lose weight," "be more productive," or "get in shape" during the next year. Instead of selecting such an ambiguous goal, focus on something more concrete on which you can realistically set your sights. In other words, choose a particular, achievable goal. For example, you might commit to losing 10 pounds, making daily to-do lists, or running a half-marathon. Be sure to make your goal realistic rather than drastic. Choosing a concrete and achievable goal also allows you to plan precisely how to accomplish (and stick to) your goal for the year.

Limit Your Resolutions: One Goal at a Time

While you might have a long list of potential New Year's resolutions, taking on too much all at once can be daunting. It can be challenging because establishing new behavioral patterns takes time and sustained effort. Focusing on one specific goal at a time makes keeping a resolution much more achievable. Single-tasking can increase productivity. Moreover, achieving even one small goal can significantly boost your esteem. Consider breaking them into manageable chunks for larger goals to work on one at a time. The American Psychological Association (APA) suggests focusing on one behavior at a time is more likely to lead to long-term success. 

Even for just one goal, taking on too much too quickly is a common reason many New Year's resolutions fail. Starting an unsustainably restrictive diet, overdoing it at the gym, or radically altering your normal behavior are surefire ways to derail your plans. Instead, focus on taking tiny steps to help you reach your larger goal. While it may seem like a slow start, these small incremental changes make it easier to stick to your new healthy habits and increase the likelihood of long-term success.

Put Time into Planning

Don't procrastinate when you choose and plan your goal. Picking wisely and extensive planning are essential parts of achieving any goal. If you start working toward a goal without any plan, you may quickly find yourself giving up when faced with any obstacle, setback, or resistance. Creating a detailed written plan allows you to consider your tactics when facing challenges. By knowing precisely what you want to accomplish and the difficulties you might face, you'll be better prepared to stick to your resolution and overcome anything that might sidetrack you.

Avoid Repeating Past Failures

Another strategy for keeping your New Year's resolution is to make a different resolution year after year. If people think they can do it, they probably can, but their self-belief will be low if they've already tried and failed. If you choose to reach the same goals you've tried for in the past, spend some time evaluating your previous results. Which strategies were the most effective? Which were the least effective? What has prevented you from keeping your resolution in past years? Then, consider altering your resolution slightly to make it more feasible. Changing your approach will make you more likely to see actual results this year.

Remember That Change Is a Process

Those unhealthy or undesired habits you are trying to change probably took years to develop, so how can you expect to change them in days, weeks, or months? Be patient with yourself. Understand that working toward your resolution is a process. Even if you make a misstep or two, you can restart and continue on your journey toward your goal. It may take longer than you would like to achieve your goals, but remember that this is not a race to the finish. Once you have committed to changing a behavior, it may be something that you continue to work on for the rest of your life.

Get Support

The buddy system works for New Year's resolutions. Having a solid support system can help you stay motivated and accountable. Camaraderie makes sticking to your resolution more fun, too. So, ideally, find a like-minded pal or loved one to join you in your goal. Explain your goals to your close friends or family and ask them to help you achieve them. Better yet, enlist the help of others by joining a group that shares your goal.

Renew Your Motivation and Keep Working on Your Goals

During the first days of a New Year's resolution, you will feel confident and highly motivated to reach your goal. Because you haven't faced any discomfort or temptation associated with changing your behavior, making this change might seem all too easy. After facing multiple problems during your resolution, your motivation to keep your New Year's resolution may dwindle. By March, many people have lost their initial spark of motivation in January. When you face such moments, remember exactly why you are doing this. Think about what you have to gain by achieving your goal. Finding sources of inspiration can keep you going when times get tough. Keep that inspiration alive by continuing to work on your goals, even after facing setbacks. If your current approach is not working, reevaluate your strategies, and develop a new plan. Flexibility with your plan and your end goal will help you succeed.

Learn and Adapt

If you suddenly encounter a setback or relapse into a bad habit, don't view it as a failure. Instead, view relapses as learning opportunities. If you are keeping a resolution journal, write down important information about when the relapse occurred, what might have triggered it, and what you might do differently next time. By understanding the challenges, you will be better prepared to deal with them in the future. The yearly ritual of resolution setting doesn't have to be an annual disappointment. Sometimes, the difference between success and failure is simply choosing the right goal and the process you use to achieve it. Most importantly, remember to be kind and flexible with yourself and celebrate any progress. It's not just the end goal that matters—the journey along the way.

Creek Fit can help you achieve your New Years' Resolution! 

Here are some special events taking place at Creek Fit:

Welcome Ride 2023:            
Special spinning class to bring in the New Year!
Thursday, January 5th @ 6:00 pm.
Recreation Complex, 4455 Sol Press Boulevard

Creek Fit in the Park:          
Boot-camp training
Fridays @ 7:00 am beginning January 6th
Recreation Complex, 4455 Sol Press Boulevard

HIIT's a New Year!!:            
HIIT class
Sunday, January 8th, @ 9:15 am
Recreation Complex, 4455 Sol Press Boulevard