It’s easy to make New Year’s resolutions but it’s hard to maintain them. Studies show that 80% of people won’t keep their resolutions, with many dropping them as early as February. But that statistic doesn’t have to include you in 2020. If you’re serious about changing your life, these tips can help hold you accountable to your goals in the new year.
Put a Reminder of Your Resolutions in Full View
It’s easy to forget about your resolutions and put them on the back burner entirely. The best way to combat forgetfulness is to make sure you can’t forget about your resolution because it’s right in front of you. Did you want to master the guitar? Then keep your guitar propped up in your living room next to the couch, you won’t be able to lounge without thinking of picking it up. Want to learn a new language? Keep a copy of the work book you’re using on your night stand. People often hide the gym equipment in their house but why not put it in plain view for a few weeks until you get into an exercise routine? Keep your goals visible.
Restrict Access to the Things You Want to Avoid
Just as you should keep your goals in plain view, you should keep your bad habits in the rear view. If it becomes too easy to engage in an activity you’re trying to avoid, you’re going to have a lot harder time sticking to your goals. If you want to stop drinking so much, keep the excess alcohol out of the house and avoid going to places that tempt you like bars. The key to avoid gorging yourself on junk food is to not buy it in the first place. Whatever bad habit you’re engaging in, push it as far away from yourself as you possibly can.
Write Down Your Goals
It sounds silly but physically writing down your goals on paper can make a huge difference in whether or not you stick with them. And don’t just write down your goals, put them somewhere in your house where you can read over them daily. Pinning your New Years resolutions to your door where you can reflect on them each morning will keep your eye on the prize. Make it a habit to read over your goals before you start your day.
Give Yourself a Few Easy Resolutions
Now, this may sound counter-productive to your cause, but it isn’t. If all your goals require an extreme amount of will-power and a lot of sacrifice, it’s less likely that you’re going to be able to meet them all. Especially if you fail at one of those resolutions. One failure can make you want to toss all your resolutions out the window. But by contrast, if you have a few resolutions that you think are fairly easy for you to attain, you’ll build confidence in yourself and your abilities. This confidence will help you tackle some of your more daunting tasks.
Include Resolutions That Provide You Joy
So many New Years resolutions include taking away something people enjoy. Whether that is alcohol, junk food, or television time, it’s extremely difficult to take away the things that make us happy. To combat the difficulty of removing fun activities, it’s important to include resolutions that will also bring some happiness into your life. Love to read? Make a resolution that you’ll join a book club. Do you have a green thumb? Make goals to add more plants to your garden. Just be sure to indulge your hobbies and passions when making your New Years resolution list.
This year, don’t be a part of the statistic of people who drop their resolutions by February. With a little effort, you can make your resolutions into new habits that change your entire lifestyle. Let 2020 become your year for success and accomplishments.