Successful Solutions For How To Fulfill New Year’s Resolutions

The New Year is a time when we all strive to improve ourselves. We set lofty goals, full of enthusiasm to finally become a better version of ourselves. But how long does that enthusiasm last? For most of us, that initial momentum quickly wanes, and before we know it, we’re back to our old habits. It’s not surprising that studies indicate that as much as 80% of New Year’s resolutions are abandoned. It sounds daunting, but you can overcome it.

Interestingly, the tradition of making New Year’s resolutions dates back over 4000 years ago to ancient Babylonians. They made promises to the gods to pay off their debts and return borrowed items. This was just the beginning. Similarly, in ancient Rome, Romans would offer gifts to their deity on January 1st and promise good behavior in the coming year.

Let’s realize that resolutions have been a practice for many years, and now it’s time to start fulfilling what we set out to do. I always say that it doesn’t have to be New Year’s to set goals. Every day can be turned into a new chapter where we transform our lives for the better.

Why do we fail to keep New Year’s resolutions?

One of the main reasons people don’t stick to their New Year’s resolutions is that we set overly ambitious goals. We set tasks that seem achievable at first, but when faced with reality, they become difficult and intimidating.

Another reason is the lack of a plan. Without a clear plan to achieve our goals, we can quickly feel lost. Planning the steps that will lead us to the desired outcome is crucial.

Then there are vague resolutions, such as “I will take better care of my health” or “I will stress less.” It’s hard to follow through with such resolutions, so we quickly lose motivation.

1. Realistic

The New Year’s resolution should be within our capabilities and feasible to accomplish. For instance, committing to exercising 2 hours every day at the gym might be unrealistic for most people with busy schedules and other responsibilities. It would be better to aim for exercising 3 times a week for an hour, or 30 minutes every day.

2. Achievable

Consider if you have enough time, motivation, and knowledge to achieve the desired resolution. For example, aiming to lose 20 kilograms or more is achievable but unrealistic in just two months.

3. Measurable

Your resolution should be measurable, so you can track whether you’ve successfully achieved it or not. For instance, “I want to earn X amount extra per month from a side job” or “I want to lose 5 kilograms in two months.” This way, you can monitor your progress and adjust if necessary.

4. Specific

Define exactly what you want to achieve. If your goal is to improve family relationships, simply stating “I want to improve family relationships” is too vague. A better approach would be setting a goal: “I will spend one afternoon every week with my family.” This makes it clear what actions you need to take.

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5. Time-bound

Set a specific timeframe for each goal. For instance, if you want to save more money, decide when you aim to achieve this goal—by the end of the year or in six months. Having a clear timeframe helps you track your progress effectively.

Tips for Successfully Fulfilling Your New Year’s Resolutions

Set goals

The first step in the new year with resolutions is to set goals.

Reflect on the past year

Take a pen and paper and reflect on the past year. Write down at least 5 things you are happy to have achieved or changed. You may have started exercising, started going to bed earlier, or spent more time with your family. Then write down at least five things you would like to change in the new year.

Set priorities

Now, look at your list. Do you find anything positive that you want to continue? Is there anything negative that you want to stop? Circle what is your priority. Then, define this goal or task by achievability and timeline. Before each goal, determine its importance to you, you can mark with numbers 1-10.

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Make goals realistic and specific

Now that you have a specific goal, make sure it is realistic. If you want to lose weight, determine:

• How much weight do you want to lose?
• How will you work towards this goal?
• What will you change regarding your diet and what will you include in terms of activity?
• In what timeframe do you want to achieve this goal?
• What tools can help you (water bottle, sports equipment…)?
• How will you maintain motivation?
• What healthy snacks can you prepare?

These are just examples; be specific and write as much as possible about how you will successfully achieve this goal.

Break down the goal into smaller steps

Big goals can be intimidating, so it’s wise to always break them down into smaller ones. If you want to start with fitness, aim to exercise twice a week in January. The following month, you can increase it to three times a week. Smaller goals are more realistic and achievable, giving you motivation and momentum to continue.

Create a plan

Write down a plan on how you will achieve the goal. If we’re still talking about weight loss, specify how you will lose weight. Will you exercise? Will you search for healthy recipes? Will you buy a new water bottle? What part of the day will you exercise? and similar.

Set a start date for all resolutions

When you’re ready, set a start date for each New Year’s resolution. If you find a certain resolution too demanding, you can introduce it gradually. To incorporate exercise into your daily routine, start slowly. Choose two days a week for exercise and decide how much time you will dedicate to it. Over time, you can increase the frequency and duration of your workouts, depending on your progress, well-being, and schedule.

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What could go wrong? And how will you respond?

Wouldn’t it be nice without obstacles? You can increase your chances of success with a detailed plan that includes anticipating obstacles and preparing strategies to overcome them.

• Anticipate possible obstacles (such as bad weather that may hinder outdoor exercise).
• Prepare a plan for obstacles.
• Develop alternative strategies.
• Be prepared for unexpected situations.
• Stay positive.

Analyze past mistakes

If this New Year’s resolutions are very similar to previous ones, it’s crucial to consider what caused you to give up. Think about the point where you typically tend to abandon your resolutions. Perhaps you start with a lot of energy and enthusiasm but lose motivation after just two weeks and start making excuses not to continue.

Or maybe you find yourself overwhelmed by the daily grind, and your resolution becomes less important. Once you identify the cause, it’s time to find a solution. What approach can you use to ensure success this time? Try different approaches and find out what works.

Help yourself with progress tracking

Tracking achievements and obstacles will help you stay focused, motivated, and enthusiastic. You can get a special notebook or journal to record important milestones, your feelings, obstacles you encounter, and other information.

Let this journal be dedicated to your New Year’s resolutions. Don’t forget to note your feelings – if you’re aiming to lose weight, describe how you feel. All the positive notes will repeatedly motivate you and remind you why you started in the first place.

One useful tool is reminders, motivational cards, or a vision board that can regularly remind you of your resolutions. Give them a try.

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Embrace change as a process

When we get caught up in a cycle of bad habits, we often remain in them for some time before realizing it’s time for change. If you’ve noticed, bad habits are easy to acquire, while positive changes often take time. If we’ve indulged in unhealthy eating and gained 20 kilograms of excess weight over the years, we cannot expect to shed it all in one month.

Therefore, be patient with yourself, allow yourself to be human, and accept that mistakes will happen along the way. Don’t despair if you stumble occasionally. Keep moving forward on your journey, aim for your goal, visualize it, and give yourself time.

Environmental shifts to achieve goals

Change your environment to align with your goals. If you want to lose weight, it’s time to remove all unhealthy snacks, avoid those aisles in the store, and stock up on healthy snacks at home.

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If you exercise at home, you can set up your home environment to always remind you of exercising. Adapt your surroundings to your goals.

Celebrate your successes!

Lastly, and importantly, celebrate!! Every step toward your goals deserves celebration. Consider how you can celebrate your perseverance and progress toward your goal. Perhaps treat yourself to a special dinner, indulge in your favorite activity, or simply enjoy some peaceful time alone.

If you have supporters around you, don’t forget to share your progress with loved ones. Inform those who support you, as it will give you a sense of satisfaction and pride.

Keep your progress in mind. Whenever you face challenges or doubts, remember HOW FAR YOU HAVE ALREADY COME.