HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 2018 is just beginning and, as cheesy as it sounds, it’s a whole new year, a new beginning! With New Year’s comes New Year’s Resolutions- promises we make to ourselves to improve our bodies, lives, and years. As hard (or not) as we try, these resolutions often get forgotten almost as fast as we make them. Here are 10 tips to help you keep your resolutions and to help you stay motivated in 2018.
- Set a few, realistic goals.
As women, especially, most of our resolutions tend to be focused on health or love. While it’s tempting to “fix” absolutely everything in your world, be realistic. It’s better to set a couple, or just one, main goal(s) and really work towards them. Our lives are busy and the last thing we need is 100 impossible goals. It’s easy to feel like a failure when you set yourself impossible goals, and this leads to discouragement. Be honest with yourself on some actual goals you’d like to accomplish, and then make an actual plan to succeed!
- Don’t beat yourself up if you let your resolution slide, just get back on track wherever you are.
Life is hectic and some days we just don’t have time to drink water every 20 seconds or run 20 miles in a week. It’s okay if you don’t go to the gym every day or eat a Big Mac. Resolutions, and life changes in general, are better if they are sustainable. Drastic diets or extreme workout plans seem good because they yield “quick results” but the best results come from a sustained healthy lifestyle. So don’t be upset with yourself if you want to have a lazy day or a lazy week. Make simple life changes that you can live with and you’ll be surprised how much more successful they are than fad diets!
- Make resolutions fun and not based off of negativity.
Resolutions are about improvement, so if you are hating life or feel forced to keep your resolutions, if you see them as a chore, you’re going to dread them. If you make resolutions simply based on things you want to improve you’ll be more likely to follow through. If you enjoy walking more than running, walk. If you make resolutions that correspond with interests you already have, they’ll be easier to incorporate into your daily routine.
- Get friends involved, but don’t be afraid to fly solo.
While it is more fun to improve your life with your friends or your partner, it can often be hard to coordinate with so many different busy schedules. If your class/work schedules do not allow for a time when you can both exercise, practice, diet, nap, or whatever your resolution is- don’t be afraid to go alone. At the end of the day, it’s your resolution, your time, and your success. Don’t let scheduling be your excuse!
- Remind yourself that this is for you.
Your resolutions are exactly that- yours. These are things and activities you want to do for yourself, and not to impress others. Find motivation in improving your year simply for the fact that you will be better off. Be your number one fan this year.
- Speak positivity over your year.
Leave negative, self-deprecating thoughts in 2017. If you wouldn’t say it to a stranger, why would you say it to yourself? Be kind to yourself; you’d be surprised how much you can motivate yourself!
- Don’t be afraid to tweak your goals throughout the year.
Let’s be honest, sometimes what looks good on paper isn’t all that realistic in practice. If you overdid it on your resolution list, or want to add to the list, don’t be scared to adjust your resolutions. It’s your life, and you know what goals you want to work for.
- Keep up with your goals physically.
Personally, I am a very visual person. It helps me to keep a tangible list of goals and successes that I can see, touch, and remind myself with; Set a reminder on your phone, put sticky notes everywhere, get a planner! Whatever it takes for you to stay motivated and successful is worth it!
- Push yourself when you can.
As women, and human beings, some days are better than others; this is just a fact of life. Some days you feel invincible- great! These are the days you go the extra mile. Some days you don’t want to even get out of bed- that’s ok, these days just take it easy and give yourself time to rest. Pushing yourself should be uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t run you into the group. Stay aware of how you are both mentally and physically, and push yourself as much as you can.
- Take it slow and steady- one day at a time.
You have all year to accomplish your goals, or set new ones. Don’t try and get your spring break body in 1 trip to the gym or fall in love on the first date. Give yourself time to succeed. Give yourself time to grow, to be lazy, to have bad days, and give yourself time to overcome all of these things. There’s no rush on success.