Cheers to a New Year!

The New Year is right around the corner and you know what that means! Time to make a new resolution.. But how successful are you in keeping the yearly goals you set for yourself? According to research published here, over time, resolutions are generally maintained the first two weeks, but gradually decline over the course of six months.  

First week: 75%

First two weeks: 71%

One month: 64%

Six months: 46%

Although research shows that people find difficulty in fulfilling their new year’s resolution, those who set themselves a goal, are 10 times more likely to follow through than those who don’t!

Research also shows that the most popular resolutions have to do with: weight loss, exercise, smoking and better money management/debt reduction. All of these categories require high mental and physical energy.  So what can you do to make the process easier? The following tips will help you keep on track!

Success within reach- Many resolutions are easier said than done. If you set the bar too high, you may end up giving up quickly and easily. Keep your new goal simple and achievable, but also meaningful. For instance, instead of setting yourself a goal of working out every day, initiate a slow and steady start of going to the gym every other day.

Work on just a few at a time- In other words, don’t overwhelm yourself! It’s already hard enough to follow up on one New Year’s resolution, but adding 3 or 4 additional ones can throw you off.  So remember, quality over quantity!

Reward yourself along each step of the way- Classically condition yourself for hard earned work. For instance, if your ultimate goal is to lose weight, reward yourself after an intense workout or prepping a healthy meal.  

Tell your loved ones! The more people know, the more praise and encouragement you’ll receive, all of which is another powerful force of positive reinforcement.

With this in mind, what is your ambitious New Year’s resolution?