How to Make a Healthy New Year’s Resolution…and Stick to It!

As 2015 comes to a close, most people are thinking of their resolution for the new year. According to 2015 statistics from University of Scranton. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 45% of Americans usually make a new year’s resolution, but only 8% are successful in achieving their goals. It’s also no surprise that the top resolution is weight loss. If you’re also looking to lose some weight or adopt a healthier way of living in 2016, then let’s make sure you’re on the right track so you’re not part of the 92% who fail. Try out these tips on how to make a new year’s resolution…and stick to it!

1. Reflect on the past year.

Before you start going all in for your next resolution, take a look back at this past year. Is this new goal the same as last year’s? If so, then you already know that you need to make adjustments if there was no progress. 24% of Americans never succeed and fail on their resolution each year. Even if you’ve never had a weight loss resolution, if you have one now, then there has to be something that caused weight gain or made you feel that you need to make a change. Try to pinpoint what the problem areas are in your life,  and that will make it easier in achieving your goals.

2. Make a SMART goal.

Sure, you want to lose weight and be healthy, but we all know it’s not as easy as it sounds. The biggest factor in determining the success of your resolution is to make sure you properly set it up. When you set a goal, make sure it is S.M.A.R.T.:

–       Specific- What exactly do you want to achieve? It’s one thing to say, “I want to be healthy,” but you will be more successful if you are specific because you have a specific measure to go by. Instead, you can say, “I want to eat fruits and vegetables,” which is a lot easier to keep track of.

–       Meaningful- If you have the heart behind it, you will follow it. Always keep the meaning of your resolution front and center. What is causing you to make this resolution?

–       Action Oriented- A big step is planning out your steps. You can’t achieve your goal if you don’t figure out how you will get there. For instance, you can add what you will  do to be healthier to your resolution: “I want to eat more fruits and vegetables by learning how to cook more healthy dishes.”

–       Realistic- Sometimes people fail at their goal simply because it’s not realistic. Losing 20 pounds or going to the gym everyday might be too hard to do, so instead, think about what CAN be possible. Maybe losing 1 pound a month or going to the gym 3 times a week is more reasonable for you.

–       Timely- Make sure your goal includes time. When will you check for your progress? Is this a goal for the whole year? Or, how often will this resolution be part of your life? Daily, weekly, monthly? Add the element of time to your goal and it will be easier to maintain and determine success. To add to the healthy resolution, you can say, “I want to eat fruits and vegetables everyday by learning how to cook at least 2 healthy recipes each week.” This goal is specific and includes time and an action step.

3. Write it down.

When something is written down, it’s more likely to stick. Don’t just type it, WRITE IT! Simply writing out your resolution puts more intention into what you’re doing. Post it up on a space that you see everyday to keep you extra motivated.

4. Find a way to keep track of progress.

Some people may have a journal or a blog about their resolution, or they use social media to socially check themselves. Maybe you use an app, or the good old pen and paper, but either way you do it, make sure to keep track of what you’re doing. This will make it easier on you to see where to make adjustments and what is really working out for you. Yes, it’s ok to make changes if the goal you set isn’t quite working right. Plus, keeping track is a great way to hold yourself accountable. You can’t track anything if you’re not doing it!

5. Stay motivated.

It’s easy to slip from your resolution if there’s no motivation. Find out what motivates you. Is it following inspiring accounts on social media? Or maybe you like to reward yourself when you see progress? Some people like external motivation, so share your resolution with your friends and family so they can check in on you and keep you going. Whatever it is that moves you, make sure to keep it constant in your life.

 

These simple tips could help you stick to your healthy resolution for 2016. If you simply make a resolution you’re already on the road to success, because People who make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t. So make your resolution SMART, write it down, stay on track and keep motivated. If you need further motivation, check out the Health Tips section, including how to avoid the 5 Common Weight Loss Mistakes. Happy New Year and cheers to a new, healthier you!