So the New Year is upon you, and like any responsible and ever- evolving person of the day, you’ve outlined for yourself a few amendments to make this year all it can be for you. Whether it be to eat better, or to be punctual, or even to quit some habit that’s been haunting you, the purpose of the new year resolution is to go into the new year a better, more wholesome you. Fostering change can be hard, especially so when the change is directed to oneself. Here lie three steps to help make your New Year resolution a permanent fixture in your life, instead of the mid- March afterthought that it can grow to be.
1. To Resolve Is Not Enough. Great job! You’ve made one of many steps toward bettering yourself, and that fete alone is one that deserves praise. But where many fail is that they stop at the resolution part of the New Year’s resolution and forget the action part of it all. While it is a wonderful accomplishment to have a goal for yourself and can envision a better you than the current you, it is not alright to become complacent with just the goal. Everyone can want something, but it is those who apply action to the wanting that are rewarded with the thing they so desire. “The longest journeys each began with a single step.” So don’t stop your journey just because you started and “that has to count for something.” It most certainly does, but your goal is to put into action your resolution, not to simply resolve.
The other half of this step is to see the self that is the result of successfully upholding your resolutions. Believe in yourself and your goals. Seriously.
2. Surround Yourself With Your Resolution. If you surround yourself with something it’s hard to ignore it, or even better in the case of resolutions, to forget it. Write it down, draw it out, create a mantra, or even an affirmation. Whatever will be the best means of keeping your resolution fixed firmly in the front of your mind, do that. Constant or frequent reminders of your goal– vision boards, post it notes, voice memos while you sleep–, whatever
3. Make It a Daily Thing. Try to make daily amendments to your life or routine to make keeping your resolution easier. If you engrain it into your habits, your everyday doings, then it will be second nature and your resolution is a success. If your resolution was to eat better, buy some fruit on your next grocery store run, or have a healthier menu choice you’ve never tried, drink some water (#drinkmorewater2kforever).
Ultimately, you just have to want it bad enough to stick to it. I believe in you.