Making a pact with anyone is hard enough but when it’s with yourself, it’s even more difficult. As we all know, the new year is the traditional and perfect time for making new plans and goals and breaking bad habits.
So how can we make sure we stick to them? Here’s our top ten tips to get you back on track.
1. Always write your goals down, it makes them real!
2. Stick your resolution/s on the wall where you’re able to look at them every day to remind yourself what you’ve committed to and why.
3. Tell a friend, family member or colleague what your thoughts are, as this way you’ll have support on tap. A challenge shared is a challenge halved!
4. Be realistic. You’re not going to get anywhere if you make a huge sweeping statement about how you’re going to achieve A, B and C in two minutes when you know it’s not practically possible.
5. Plan ahead. Planning is the key to achieving your goals. If you want to lose weight, form a diet/exercise regime. If you want to resign and change your career, spruce up your CV and make a plan where you’re going to look, how and who to contact.
6. Constantly reward yourself. Giving yourself a treat throughout changing a habit is imperative. Make sure after every day or end of the week you pat yourself on the back as a ‘well done’ for what you’ve achieved that day or week.
7. Positive thoughts will get you everywhere. The more positively your think about saving for your dream holiday, stopping smoking or weaving exercise into your week, the more encouraged you’ll be to succeed.
8. Apparently it only takes 3 weeks to break a habit so if you want to give up a certain substance like sugar or caffeine then refrain as much as you can! Three weeks isn’t a long time.
9. If you’re thinking of easing up after all the festivities, make sure you try and stay away from the places that sell it i.e. pubs, bars and clubs!
10. If you have a wobble don’t feel bad about it. Just breathe and tell yourself you know you’re doing something constructive to help change your life and maybe others, for the better.