How to Stick to Your New Year's Resolutions

As we enter the second month of 2021, it's easy to let life's busyness distract us from sticking to those great goals we set at the beginning of the new year. 

We believe that you can implement new habits and set goals any day of the year, but here are our top tips for creating goals that will stick!

Creating achievable goals 

Create SMART goals

Setting vague goals is an easy way for you to forget or put off achieving your goals. 

Have you heard of SMART goals? 

SMART stands for;

Specific: Instead of simply aiming to exercise 'more', set a specific amount of exercise you want to do at a particular time or day to keep yourself accountable. For example, I will exercise three days a week.

Measurable: Used number-based goals to measure your progress. For example, I will exercise for 45mins three  days a week.

Achievable: Don't go from 0 to 100. You're more likely to hit your goal if it's attainable. Success breeds success, so the more realistic your goals are and the more you hit them, the more motivated you will be to keep going. 

Relevant: Don't let someone else's New Year's resolution influence you. Your goals are for you, after all. Make them appropriate to suit your lifestyle and your needs.

Time-Based: Setting yourself a specific deadline to achieve your goal will keep you motivated. I will exercise for 45 minutes three days a week for the next month.

Prioritise habits over goals 

In his bestselling book, Atomic Habits, author James Clear argues that implementing recurring habits and routines is the key to achieving your goals. He believes that setting goals doesn't lead to long-term change. Long-term goals can also leave you feeling unmotivated if you don't reach them. 
You can read more about his advice for implementing systems that work for you here. 

Stack habits

Another great system mentioned in Atomic Habits is habit stacking. Find an activity that you do every day, which comes naturally to you, like drinking coffee or brushing your teeth, and "stack" your new desired habit on top of it.

If your New Year's resolution is to read more, then try reading instead of scrolling on your phone while you drink your morning cup of coffee. It's all about making your goals as easy to achieve as possible.

Find an accountability partner 

Most of our goals are self-centred, so it's easy to feel alone in your journey. Find a friend or family member and keep each other accountable by checking in daily, weekly, or however often you see fit. You don't need to work towards the same goal, you just need to keep each other motivated. 

Don't let a bad day stop you from reaching your goals 

And finally, if you have a bad day, week, or month, don't feel defeated! Although setting New Year's resolutions is fun, there's no deadline on trying new things or getting back on track. 

If you've let your goals slip since the start of the year, don't worry, relax and try again tomorrow!