New year, new you? It’s a nice idea, but let’s be honest – how many New Year’s resolutions have you actually kept? Making lasting, meaningful changes isn’t easy, so read on to discover the best ways to keep your resolutions going longer than the ink on your to-do list!
Make gradual changes
Whether you want to make sweeping lifestyle changes or improve your self-confidence or body image issues, it can be tempting to plunge into the new year with an all or nothing attitude. But this is doomed to be a disaster.
The 1st of January is often gloomy, cold and dark, and you may still be feeling the effects of your New Year’s Eve celebrations, so you’re hardly in the best place to chug back a green smoothie and get on the yoga mat at dawn. Don’t try to overhaul your life. Set yourself gradual, achievable goals – for example, exercising 3 times a week, not every day – and as they become part of your lifestyle, you can up the ante.
Find support
Motivation can be a tough nut to crack, and it’s not easy to go it alone. Keep yourself on the right track by talking about your goals with a trusted friend or family member. It’s even better if they’ve got similar plans – you’ll find it easier to cut down on the booze if you’re holding each other accountable.
If you’re not comfortable confessing your resolutions to someone in the real world, look for online support. An anonymous forum, full of people with the same issues, can do wonders for your staying power.
Forget the all or nothing attitude
We’ve all been there: the diet’s going so well, until you give in to temptation mid-morning and eat a Mars bar. Immediately, it feels like the day’s a complete write-off, so you might as well get a takeaway… and tomorrow’s a Wednesday, so it’s better to leave it until Monday to make a fresh start…
This needs to stop! Thinking of every little slip up as a total disaster is the number one way to self-sabotage. So you ate the Mars bar – that doesn’t mean that you have to abandon all your good intentions. Get back on the straight and narrow as quickly as possible, enjoy a healthy lunch and dinner, and don’t beat yourself up about one little mistake.
If you’d like to talk more about positive lifestyle changes and achievable goals, please feel free to reach out to discuss private sessions with me by visiting https://www.healthpsychologyclinic.co.uk/appointments.php – I love helping clients and design a plan for this issue.
