New Year, New You!

What do you want to accomplish this year? Or maybe you have a long-term dream you have put on hold? Now is the perfect time to take concrete steps towards achieving your goal!

You might not have been successful in keeping New Year’s resolutions in the past? You’re not the only one, most people do not follow up on their New Year’s resolutions either because their resolutions are unrealistic or they lose motivation. Whatever you want to change: your relationships, your health, your work, your finances… this is how to do it!

Choose a Specific Goal

Every year, millions of people resolve to "lose weight," "be more productive," or "get in shape" during the new year. Instead of selecting such an ambiguous goal, focus on something more concrete that you can realistically set your sights on. In other words, choose a very specific, achievable goal like running 3 times a week.

Make Your New Year’s Resolution Fun!

Studies show that people are more successful at keeping approach-oriented goals (such as changing eating or sleeping habits, rather than avoidance-oriented ones (which are motivated by a desire to avoid something). 

Approach-oriented goals require more planning but they are worth it. For example if you’re looking to cut down on sugar or meat, look up sugar free and vegetarian recipes. Take a screenshot of the recipe or make a list of the ingredients you need before you go to the supermarket. As you put the ingredients in your trolley, you will be looking forward to preparing and eating something new.

With this approach, you are much more likely to keep your New Year’s resolutions than forbidding yourself certain food. Telling yourself you can’t have chocolate for instance is likely to increase your cravings. Our desire increases as we deny ourselves something. In other words, we want what we can’t have. Tell yourself “I can’t have chocolate” and notice how it makes you feel, now reframed this thought and tell yourself “I can have a chocolate bar but instead I choose to have a fruit and a yoghurt”. See how your thoughts change the way you feel, you are no longer feeling frustrated but empowered because you are making a positive choice.

Have a vision

Back to our goal of eating healthier. As I mentioned earlier, your vision could be seeing yourself cutting out recipes from magazines and creating a recipe book with your children or picturing yourself preparing an evening meal with your family. Maybe imagine yourself hosting a dinner party inviting your friends to discover your new healthy recipes, listen to them complimenting you on your culinary talents. It might be visualising yourself shopping for your dream dress or passing the finishing line of the marathon you’ve been training for.

Don’t beat yourself up but get back on track as soon as you can

So you’ve been really good at keeping up your New Year’s resolutions of running 3 times a week for 2 months but you’ve slipped this week. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Look back honestly at the past week: was there a reason why you didn’t run? If it’s simply because you didn’t feel like it, no point beating yourself up for it. A lack of motivation doesn’t make you a bad or a lazy person. Simply go back to your vision of the healthier you, bathe into this vision: visualise yourself moving more freely, going clothes shopping, feeling confident on the beach… put your trainers on, play your favourite music and enjoy your run!

If you haven’t been able to exercise due to illness or an injury, adapt your exercise routine by taking up pilates or a more gentle form of exercise until you’re back to full strength.  

Along the way, don’t forget to congratulate yourself each week for keeping up with your New Year’s resolutions. Enjoy your achievements!

Surround yourself with people who motivate you

Surround yourself with people who encourage you and support you through your goals. If you don’t have a friend who share the same goal, join a running club or a gym class. If something still holds you back or you are at a crossroad feeling stuck, consult a life coach, he/ she will help you define your goals, give you the motivation to pursue them and celebrate your achievements with you!