Make Those Resolutions Stick
It happens every year: On January 1st, you set some goals and look forward to a better you. And then February arrives and you realize you’ve already lost sight of those goals. But maybe the problem isn’t your ability to stick to your goals; maybe the problem is the goals you’re setting.
To improve your odds of holding to resolutions, psychologist Lynn Bufka encourages you to set “small, attainable goals throughout the year, instead of a singular, overwhelming goal on Jan. 1.”
The American Psychological Association backs up that advice with a few tips for making it possible:
Start Small. Don’t start with giant goals. Set goals you know you can attain with a little work.
Go one at a time. Don’t try to change everything in your life at once. Isolate a series of goals and achieve them individually.
Share. Let family and friends know about your goals. The accountability will help you hold to them.
Take it easy on yourself. You will most likely have a setback. Don’t beat yourself up.
Ask for help. Sometimes the change you need in your life is more than you can handle alone. Enlist assistance from professional counselors or coaches, if need be.
Take this approach, and you just might find that you’re still on track with your resolutions in February … and March, April, and beyond.
Tags: New Year's Resolutions, Resolution Success, Resolutions