We’re officially three weeks into the new year. And you’ve probably heard the adage that it takes 21 days to form a new habit (which is debatable, but still interesting). So how are you doing on your New Year’s resolutions so far?
If you’re struggling with them — or have pretty much abandoned them completely — don’t worry. You’re not alone. All of our good intentions in December don’t necessarily directly translate to actual life changes in January.
But that doesn’t mean you should give up on your resolutions, either. The very fact that you resolved to make these changes means that you want to improve yourself or the world this year. Kudos to you for that! Rather than giving up on your resolutions because January’s ticking away and you’re not feeling like you’ve made a lot of progress, let’s regroup.
To help us all focus back in on our New Year’s resolutions and make those positive changes in our lives, we did some research. Here are our top tips for sticking to your resolutions (for real) in 2020.
Acknowledge the challenges
Hitting January 22nd without making a lot of progress toward your resolutions may not feel great. But it actually is great, in a way. You now have three weeks of data to look back on and see what hasn’t worked.
So, what’s the deal? Are your resolutions too big or complicated? Try breaking them down into micro-goals. If you want to run a marathon by the year’s end, resolve to run one mile in the next month. Work your way up from there.
Take the time to think about what hasn’t worked and what’s kept you from progress. Use any lack of progress as an opportunity to identify obstacles and put a plan in place for overcoming them.
Get help
There’s an African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” The thing with resolutions is that they’re usually big goals. So big, in fact, that tackling them alone feels daunting.
Fortunately, you don’t have to. Get support! That could mean asking a friend to keep you accountable, joining an online forum or subreddit with people who have similar goals, or even talking to one of our counselors about it. The moment you involve another person in your growth, you get accountability. And that helps you perform better, keeps you focused, and more.
Celebrate your successes
Why do so many people lose steam on their resolutions so quickly? It’s because they set major goals that will takes months, if not the entire year, to reach. That’s a lot of work.
And, yes, achieving your resolutions takes work. But it shouldn’t be a slog all year long. Another reason we advocate breaking your resolutions into smaller goals is that it gives you benchmarks along the way. And when you reach one, it’s time to celebrate! Celebrating is important. Not only does it make you feel great, but it also strengthens your resolve to keep making progress. Without acknowledging the progress you’re making, it’s easy to lose your drive. So don’t be afraid to pat yourself on the back!
You’re not on your own with your resolutions. Our Ventura Counseling & Wellness Center team is here to provide accountability, help you problem solve your challenges, and celebrate your successes. Let’s work together toward our 2020 goals!
