I don’t know about anyone else but the whole ‘New year, new me’ social media status’s that we can’t help but see everywhere we look it can be tough, I just find the whole thing draining, and that’s even before we have hit January 1st.
People telling you what you should be eating, how much you should be exercising and all the things they are giving up and don’t you think you should be too?
It can all just feel too much.
And I can most certainly feel the pressure when everyone around me seems to be smashing their goals.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t make resolutions but why should they be done straight away and why pile on the pressure on a month that is hard enough as it is.
However, making resolutions does have some plus points. If you struggle with the mundane dreary month that is January and you need a focus or something to work on then give it a go but do it the right way.
I’ve listed below some of the tips I will be sticking too in the hopes that my resolutions last longer than my new workout regime.
Set realistic goals
Looking to lose a few of those Christmas pounds? (I mean who isn’t?) Start small, there is no point setting yourself a target of 3 stone by February as you for sure will fail. Set yourself a manageable few pounds as a starting point. You can always change the goal posts as you go. You are much more likely to stick to a plan in the long run if you see positive results straight away.
Set a maximum of 5 resolutions
Again, if you are trying to run before you walk you will fall on your face. Set yourself no more than five resolutions that you can work on throughout the year, Resolutions are not just for one month. Want to be able to do 10,000 steps a day by the Spring? Work on that now week by week. Set small targets to see results.
Reward your success
Manage to complete dry Jan with not so much as a sniff of Baileys? Treat yourself to something you have wanted come February 1st. That way every time you are tempted to break your resolution you can think of that new handbag or those new boots to keep you motivated and on track.
Write them down
Put that new planner to good use and write down your goals. What are you looking to achieve and realistically when would you like to see them fulfilled? We are much more likely to stick to something once it is written down and i love nothing more than ticking things off on completion.
Be patient with yourself
Change is a process. Those unhealthy habits you may be trying to give up, you didn’t start them overnight so you won’t be able to change them that quickly either. It will take time, be patient with yourself and if you have a bad day, don’t worry, you can restart the next day. It may take longer to tick your resolutions off, but who is counting? This is your own journey take as long as you need. You are much more likely to see positive changes the longer you work at something.
Good luck and a happy new year xx