We are now 1 month into the new year – how are those new year resolutions going so far?

Wait let me guess some of them:

New Year’s resolutions are a time-honored tradition for many people, as the start of a new year provides an opportunity to reflect on the past and set intentions for the future.

One of the most popular resolutions is to lose weight and get in shape. This can be achieved by setting specific, measurable goals and developing a plan to achieve them. This might include joining a gym, hiring a personal trainer, or participating in a workout class. Additionally, it can be helpful to track your progress by keeping a food diary and measuring your weight and body fat percentage on a regular basis.

Another popular resolution is to improve one’s finances. This can be done by creating a budget, paying off debt, and saving money. Additionally, it can be helpful to set financial goals, such as saving for a down payment on a house or starting a retirement savings plan.

Other common resolutions include quitting smoking, reducing stress, and spending more time with friends and family. Whatever your resolution may be, the key to success is setting specific, measurable goals and developing a plan to achieve them. 

Making a New Year’s resolution is the easy part, keeping it is where the real challenge lies. By setting specific and measurable goals, creating a plan of action, tracking your progress, enlisting support, staying flexible, rewarding yourself, being patient and reviewing and reflecting, you can increase your chances of success. Remember that the key is to keep trying and not to give up.

Here are some action steps that can help you keep your New Year’s resolutions:

1. Set specific and measurable goals: Instead of resolving to “lose weight” or “save money,” set specific and measurable goals, such as “lose 10 pounds by March” or “save $1000 by December.”
2. Create a plan of action: Develop a plan of action to achieve your goals. This might include outlining the steps you need to take, such as joining a gym, hiring a personal trainer, or creating a budget.
3. Track your progress: Keep track of your progress by keeping a journal, using a goal-tracking app, or taking progress photos. This will help you stay motivated and celebrate your successes.
4. Enlist support: Enlist the support of friends and family, or join a support group. Having people to talk to and share your experiences with can be very helpful.
5. Stay flexible: Be open to making adjustments to your plan as needed. If something isn’t working, don’t be afraid to try something else.
6. Reward yourself: Reward yourself for reaching milestones or achieving your goals. This can be something small, like a treat or a day off, or something bigger, like a vacation.
7. Be patient: Keep in mind that change takes time and effort. Be patient with yourself and don’t give up if you slip up or encounter obstacles.
8. Review and Reflect: Set regular times to review your progress, reflect on your journey and make any necessary adjustments.

New Year’s resolutions can fail for a variety of reasons, but by setting realistic goals, creating a plan of action, enlisting support, staying motivated, being flexible, and reflecting and reviewing progress can help increase the chances of success. 

New Year’s resolutions often fail for a variety of reasons, such as:

1. Unrealistic goals: Setting unrealistic goals, such as losing an excessive amount of weight in a short period of time, can set you up for failure from the start.
2. Lack of planning: Without a specific plan of action, it can be difficult to achieve your goals. This can include a lack of knowledge on how to achieve the goal, not knowing the resources available, or not having a clear schedule or deadline.
3. No support system: Quitting smoking, losing weight, or changing any habit can be difficult, and having a support system can make it easier to achieve your goals. Without support, it can be easy to fall back into old habits.
4. Lack of motivation: Maintaining motivation over a long period of time can be difficult, especially if progress is slow or there are setbacks. It’s important to find ways to stay motivated and remind yourself why you set the goal in the first place.
5. Life events: Unplanned events such as a job loss, illness, or relationship problem can throw a wrench in even the best-laid plans, making it hard to stick to the resolution.
6. No flexibility: Being too rigid in your approach can make it hard to adapt to changes and can discourage you from continuing when things don’t go as planned.
7. No reflection and review: Not reflecting on the progress and not reviewing the plan can make it hard to identify and correct issues that may arise.

Maintaining motivation over a long period of time can be challenging, but by keeping the end goal in mind, celebrating small wins, finding an accountability partner, visualizing the end goal, making it fun, rewarding yourself, breaking it down and reflecting and reviewing, you can increase your chances of success and stay motivated throughout the journey.

Here are some ways to maintain motivation when working towards your New Year’s resolution:

1. Remind yourself why you started: Keep in mind the reason why you set the goal in the first place and remind yourself of the benefits of achieving it.
2. Celebrate small wins: Celebrate small successes along the way, this can be a great way to stay motivated and keep moving forward.
3. Find an accountability partner: Find a friend or family member who can hold you accountable for your actions and help you stay on track.
4. Visualize the end goal: Imagine yourself having achieved your goal, and visualize the positive changes it will bring to your life.
5. Make it fun: Try to make working towards your goal fun and enjoyable. This can include finding a way to make the task less mundane or incorporating an activity you enjoy.
6. Reward yourself: Set up a reward system for when you reach milestones or achieve your goal. This can be something small or something bigger, but it should be something you truly want.
7. Break it down: Break your goal down into smaller, manageable tasks. This can make it easier to stay motivated and not feel overwhelmed.
8. Reflect and Review: Reflect on your progress and review your plan regularly, this can help you adjust your approach and stay motivated.

Keep in mind that resolutions don’t have to be limited to the start of the year, you can make them anytime, and it’s ok to make mistakes or slip up, the most important thing is to keep trying.