Okay, I might be a little late to the game.
We're almost a month into 2019 and by now all of the declarations of resolutions and "new year, new me" instagram captions have died down. But that doesn't mean its too late to decide to take steps towards making a change, no matter how small they may be.
1. You can start by being kinder to yourself.
This is definitely easier said than done, but it is so important, especially if you are trying to stick to a resolution. It's easy for us to beat ourselves up for one slip up, like eating a bite of junk food or texting that ex you left in 2018. Just because you gave in doesn't mean you need to give up. Being nicer to yourself can be a goal in itself, and it's okay if you aren't fully there yet. Just keep it in mind when working towards your main goals. It's hard to be motivated when you are putting yourself down. You should be proud of every stride you make towards making a positive change in your life.
2. Set multiple small goals that will ultimately lead you to what you want to achieve.
My mom always told me "inch by inch life's a cinch, yard by yard life is hard" and I used to just roll my eyes or laugh until I realized just how right she was. By setting multiple small goals, like going to the gym at least once a week, you can work towards your ultimate goal of getting in shape in a much less daunting way. You will feel a lot more encouraged when you are able to meet these small goals and it will likely lead you to success in accomplishing your main goal. Significant change can seem scary or even impossible when all your focusing on is the end result. Learn to celebrate the small victories.
3. Focus on the future rather than the past.
I'm sure everyone has had the notion of not being able to change the past drilled into their heads; but this doesn't stop us from dwelling on it. We tend to agonize over what we should have done rather than we we could be doing now. And it is easy to not want to try to achieve something new when you feel like its too late or that you already failed at doing something similar last year. Looking forward allows us to forgive ourselves of any mistakes we may have made in the past and put more energy towards our ideal future.
4. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
It can be very hard to achieve anything without some sort of support system. Asking those who know and love you for help or advice can greatly benefit you in achieving your goals. As weird as it sounds, self improvement can be a team effort. The people close to you can offer an outside perspective and make you more aware of your progress ("I noticed you've been happier lately") or ("You seem a little more down on yourself"). Surrounding yourself with healthy relationships where you feel comfortable enough to ask for help and/or feedback can make all the difference.
5. Realize that change takes time and it will not happen overnight.
Anything worth having is never easy to get, and this goes for resolutions to. Achieving your goals is a process that takes time and although it can be discouraging to not see results right away, you have to be patient. Keep pushing forward and stay motivated. The rest will fall into place.
