Here we are at the beginning of a new year and this is a perfect time to reflect on the past year and plan for the year ahead. Many are coming up with new resolutions and hopefully will be able to keep them! Many people focus on weight loss, eating healthy and getting more exercise. Are you like me and feel like you no sooner make these resolutions and then you break them? You are not alone and hopefully this post will give you (and me) enough tips to  be able to keep yours this year.

In order to help you keep your resolutions, you should keep track of your progress.  This will help keep yourself accountable. Keeping track of your progress, even if it is just small progress, will help you feel more motivated. I suggest keeping a small notebook with you to record that progress.

Next, don’t make unattainable resolutions.  If you are needing to lose weight, don’t make it a goal to lose 50 pounds. Instead, make it a goal to lose 25 pound in 6 months or 5 pounds per month. I don’t know about you, but trying to shed 5 or 25 pounds seems a lot more realistic and chances are you won’t fail.

Another strategy in keeping your resolutions is to reward yourself for the baby steps. So you don’t contradict your resolution, don’t celebrate losing 10 pounds by eating a box of chocolate. Instead, reward yourself with a new outfit or doing something you enjoy.

It is also helpful to come up with a plan to deal with those temptations to skip the exercise or have the second helping of dessert. You KNOW it’s going to happen! This might include calling a friend to talk you through it or reminding yourself of why you have the resolution in the first place. 

Finally and maybe most importantly, keep trying! It is inevitable that we will have those moments where we fall back on our old ways, but if we remind ourselves why we have these goals and use the strategies to keep them, we will succeed!

Leave me a comment and let me know your goals! I’d also love to hear what you plan on doing to make sure to keep them!