The New Year is here and you’re basking in the promise of a fresh start. There’s something magical about this time. A blank slate. Day 1, again. Like many, you’ve probably made some resolutions or have at least thought in passing about changes you want to make in your life. Here are 3 steps you can take to help you stick to your resolutions for good.
- Don’t ditch, replace!
If you’re trying to quit a regular habit like smoking or overdoing it on the sugary drinks then don’t just stop cold turkey without deciding on a replacement action. Here’s the cold, hard truth: there’s a reason for your habit. If you smoke, maybe it’s stress. Perhaps those sugary drinks are just too easily available and tasty too. Regardless of the reason, it exists and your brain is telling you that your habit is meeting the need.
The key is to replace the habits you want to change with more beneficial ones so that you are meeting your psychological (and sometimes physical) needs by making positive steps. First, understand why you have your existing habit, then choose a more wholesome replacement. From there, it’s all about sticking with it…
- One step at a time.
The most life-impacting changes are usually the toughest because they require you to make several different behavioural choices within one single change. Controlling weight for example is not simply a matter of cutting calories. For sure that helps, but it also about getting active, increasing exercise and perhaps even getting the help from products like the Body Transformation System.
Set yourself up for success by creating small behavioral goals each day. If controlling your weight is at the top of your list, think through your choices with “mini” resolutions like, “I’m going to take the stairs today and pack a healthy lunch for work”.
You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment when you achieve those two things and that, in turn, will inspire you to keep going.
- Listen to yourself
Self-restraint isn’t a never-ending resource that you just haven’t been able to tap into yet. Willpower can be exhausting but ultimately rewarding! Interestingly, self-control becomes much easier when you care for your body and mind.
Instead of denying yourself until you break and resorting to feasting on some of those unhealthy snacks, listen to your body and mind for clues that your self-discipline is waning.
Pay attention to how you feel, when you’re stressed out and when you’ve had enough of with saying no to yourself. Then take action, so if you are feeling peckish try chomping on a healthy piece of fruit or supping a protein shake to get you through or distract yourself with a spur-of-the-moment movie date to get you out of the house.
How do you plan on keeping your New Year’s resolutions in 2022?
