How to Meet Those New Years Resolutions

How to Actually Keep Your New Year's Resolutions

I’ve got nothing against new year's resolutions. I think setting intentions any time of year is a good thing. Intentions help us be mindful and thoughtful about the things that are important to us, they allow us to put our inner dreams and wishes out into the world and work to make them a reality. So why do so many abandon their resolutions come March?

Take a look at my top 3 tips for setting and keeping your resolutions all year long:

1. Make them meaningful: While I applaud any intention that helps us become the best version of ourselves, the best new year’s resolutions are those that actually mean something–to you. It’s great if you’ve made a resolution to lose weight or to get healthier. But WHY are you making this resolution? Check in with yourself about why you’re setting a goal that you’re setting. Is it to make someone else happy? Is it to gain someone else’s approval? Is it so that you’ll fit in with a particular group? If you want to lose weight because you think it will make your partner more attracted to you, that’s a tricky road. If you want to lose weight because YOU want to fall in love with yourself again, you’re more likely to stick with it. This is because the approval of others is a slippery thing. It’s not to say it’s bad that we want others to be proud of us, or find us attractive, or think we’re special. But if WE do not already think those things about ourselves, we’re just trying to fill and empty cup.
   

TAKEAWAY: Make sure your resolutions are about YOU.

1. Share them with someone: This one is super powerful. When we tell someone else a goal or a dream we have, even just giving voice to it can give it power. We’re making it real, we’re sharing a part of ourselves with someone else, and doing this can make you more likely to follow through. Not to mention that telling others helps keep us accountable. Once we start getting others in on our excitement, we’re a little bit more in the public eye. As long as the outward pressure doesn’t get TOO strong, a little outside encouragement is always helpful.
   

TAKEAWAY: Share your resolution with someone you love and trust.

1. Support yourself in their achievement: Words are one thing. And while they are powerful, even something said aloud is just that- a beginning. In order to REALLY achieve those resolutions, you’re going to need to surround yourself with things/people/environments/thoughts that SUPPORT that resolution. For example. If your resolution is to get more fit, you’ll want to make sure you have your walking shoes, your workout gear, your equipment– all within reach, visible, and easily accessed. Take it with you in a bag to work, for example. You’ll want to surround yourself with people who understand and value fitness as well. You’ll want to spend more time in environments that encourage fitness- like parks, the Pilates studio, and your own mat. And you’ll want to cultivate motivating and positive thoughts like—I can do this, This is possible, I acknowledge where my body is today and honor that, I am strong—and work to rid yourself of nevative/unhelpful thoughts like I’ve got so far to go, or I’ll never make it or Why would this work this time?
   

TAKEAWAY: Support your resolution with things/people/environments/thoughts that SUPPORT your progress instead of detract from it.

What about you? What are your resolutions this year, and how will YOU work to keep them?