A new year is often seen as a fresh, new start. The dawn of a new year gives people a chance to better themselves. In order to keep a New Year's Resolution, it must become a habit. There is a myth that it take only twenty-one days to make a habit become permanent. New research suggests that it actually takes as much as two months. In order to make a New Year's Resolution stick, it must become a permanent habit. Here are a few tips to make this possible:
Make sure the resolution is one that you actually want to achieve.
Don't just make a resolution because you think it's something you should do, like working out twice a day or sticking to a rigid diet plan. These goals are fine if you are striving for a healthier you, but if not, it's better to stick to something that is personal and important to you.
Involve other people in your goal.
You are more likely to uphold your resolution if you have others to hold you accountable. When you catch yourself slipping, it's helpful to have people to pull you back.
Make a plan.
Find ways to integrate your resolution in your daily routine. If you find a place in your everyday life for your goal, it'll feel less like a chore and more and more like a habit.
Set small goals, and reward yourself for achieving them.
Stay focused on the small victories. For example, if you want to lose weight, set small weight loss goals, like only a few pounds at a time until you reach your overall goal. The small goals will help motivate you to keep going. After working hard to make your resolution a solid part of your life, you deserve to reward yourself!
Manage your triggers.
There are things that are going to get you off track and trigger you to reverse your resolution. Recognize your triggers. Once you are aware of what will make you break your habit, you can stop them. You are bigger than the piece of cake on the counter or whatever else it is that you're fighting.
See all progress as success.
There will be hard times when you try establishing a habit. Sometimes you'll stray, and that's okay. Any progress you make is good progress. Keep it up. You can do it!
