You may not be surprised to find out that the percentage is in the single digits. Why is it that so many people fail to accomplish their New Year’s goals? What makes resolutions so unattainable? For starters, people typically make lofty goals with no plans to follow-through. They also make goals that cannot be measured or that are impossible to achieve. The key to making a resolution that you can make happen by the end of the year is to choose a resolution that is realistic.
Be Realistic
Don’t make a resolution that you cannot achieve in one year. It’s better to think small than to go overboard. Maybe you want to lose 200 pounds. That goal is not attainable within one year, so instead, why not make it a goal to lose 50 pounds this year and make losing 200 pounds a long-term goal? Taking small steps to reach your goal is far less intimidating than trying to reach a huge goal in a small amount of time. If you’ve never run a day in your life, it might be unrealistic to resolve to start running five days per week. Start slow, and work your way up.
Don’t Deprive Yourself
Far too often, people deprive themselves when they are making resolutions. If you completely restrict or deprive yourself of something you enjoy, you may find it incredibly difficult to stay on track. There is a reason diets don’t work and that lifestyle changes do. Instead of resolving to swear off junk food for the entire year, allow yourself to have one cheat meal or day per week.
Be Consistent
Studies show that people are committed to their resolutions at the start of January, but by the end of the month, only a quarter of people are still committed to their resolutions. In order to reach your goals, you have to give yourself the time and space to achieve them. Be consistent and prioritize resolutions. Don’t get in your own way! Create an environment conducive to your goals.
Find Things You Enjoy
When you’re making a resolution to lose weight or exercise more, be sure that you find an activity you enjoy. It will be difficult to stick to a strict running regimen if you hate running. Take some time to figure out what you enjoy. If you love Zumba and swimming, do that! Don’t make yourself do something that you hate. The same thing goes for eating. If you want to eat healthier in the new year, that’s awesome, but if you hate kale, don’t force yourself to eat it. There are plenty of healthy alternatives to enjoy! When you make yourself eat or do something you don’t like, it is much harder to stick with it.
Be Specific
It’s easy to make ambiguous resolutions, like “exercise more” or “lose weight,” but what does that really mean for you and your body? If you’ve never worked out, working out just once in 2021 means you will have accomplished your goal! Instead, choose specific, measurable goals. This will help you keep track of your progress. Consider making resolutions such as:
- Exercise three times per week
- Meal prep one week of lunches each week
- Incorporate vegetables into two meals per day
- Try one new exercise class per month
- Limit fast food to once per month
If you are committed to weight loss in the new year, contact us for information.