This is how you stick to those good resolutions
Let's be honest, how many New Year's resolutions from 2024 have you really kept? I must admit that I can count them on one hand. But hey, the new year is just around the corner, which means new round, new chances. To prevent us from failing early again this year, we could use some help. Fortunately, experts from the University of California have some tips to rock it this year.
Be selective
You can see January 1 as a total reset. There's a good chance you'll start the new year with a huge list of resolutions. According to experts, it's better not to do that. Setting too many new goals is asking for trouble. It's better to come up with one or at most two resolutions and go all in on those. This way, you have much more time to work on your goals and you won't be disappointed because you couldn't get to everything.
Plan ahead
Coming up with a good resolution is step one. But then comes the most important, and often the hardest part: actually executing it. To make this a bit easier, it's good to plan ahead. What steps are you going to take to achieve your goal and how much time do you want to take for that? With good preparation, you know better what to expect and you always have something to fall back on.
Set clear goals
Now wanting to get everything out of your gym membership is on many people's list for the coming year (again). To really make this succeed, experts say it should be a bit more specific. For example, think in advance about how often you want to go each week and how long you plan to work out. This way, you have measurable goals that you can actually check off your to-do list And that's always a nice feeling.
Don't overdo it
Starting enthusiastically is of course good, but by setting the bar too high right away, you ultimately make it harder for yourself. Going from zero to working out three times a week is quite a change and you need to adjust the rest of your routine around it. It's better to build it up slowly. Start with once a week, and as soon as that feels good, you can add another workout. All those small steps lead you to your bigger goal.
Choose a new resolution
It's not a crazy thought to want to give your failed resolution a second chance. But there's probably a reason why it didn't work out before. So for 2025, choose a new goal, or tweak an old one a bit. This way, you avoid falling into the same pitfalls again and hopefully, with a new plan, you can reach the finish line this year.
Don't do it alone
We all have those days when all you want to do is flop on the couch with a bag of chips. Motivating yourself to put on those workout leggings is a bit harder than usual. Fortunately, you don't have to do it all alone. By sharing your resolutions with friends and family, you can rely on them during tough moments. They can remind you why you set those goals in the first place, so you can get off that couch, maybe with some reluctance.
Give yourself some time
Changes in your routine always feel a bit awkward. Especially at the beginning, you'll need to remind yourself regularly to work on your resolutions. Not surprising, as research shows it takes 66 days for something to really become a habit. So it's not a big deal if you don't always meet your goals in the first few weeks. So don't throw in the towel right after January. Just hold on a bit longer and you'll make it this year.
Source: UC Davis Health | Image: Netflix
