As the calendar turns from 2019 to 2020, many of us are planning to make a fresh start and leave old habits behind. If you have set New Year’s resolutions in the past and failed to keep them, you’re not alone. Even with the best of intentions, the majority of people who set resolutions at the dawn of a new year abandon them less than a month later. Here are some tips for making 2020 the year you finally create New Year’s resolutions you can stick with for the long haul.
1. Start With Small, Manageable Goals
Don’t make resolutions you won’t be able to keep. Instead, keep them attainable and realistic. For example, if your goal centers on fitness, plan to make it to the gym three to four days per week, instead of committing to seven. If you’d like to eat healthier, choose a sensible meal plan, rather than putting yourself on a severe crash diet that requires you to count calories for everything you eat.
2. Don’t Take on Too Much at Once
Is your list of New Year’s resolutions longer than your holiday shopping list? Looking at a lengthy list can feel overwhelming and lead to increased stress and anxiety. Instead of trying to make sweeping lifestyle changes, choose one or two things you feel are within your reach. Habits, both good and bad, take longer to establish than you might think. Be patient with yourself, and don’t expect overnight success.
3. Make Your Resolutions Public
Another way to ensure that you stick to your guns is to share your goals with family and friends who will help keep you accountable for the progress you make. You can announce your goals on social media, or consider joining a supportive group of people who share similar ambitions. Having someone along for the ride can make you feel more motivated and less alone in your pursuit of your New Year’s resolutions. If you feel your enthusiasm fading, your support system can get you moving again.
4. Have a Timeframe
Instead of being vague with your resolutions, include a set date by which you will achieve each component of your goal. These dates will be your yardstick for measuring the progress you make. Buy a calendar and pin it to the wall somewhere that you’ll be able to see it every day.
5. Be Specific
Another reason resolutions often fail is that they aren’t detailed enough. If you set a vague goal such as “I’m going to invest in a retirement account,” you’re dooming yourself to be unsuccessful. Instead, resolve to set aside a designated amount of money, such as $5,000.
Commit to Your Health in 2020
Many people make resolutions centering on health and wellness. If you are struggling with an addiction to drugs and alcohol and have realized you can’t go it alone, there is no shame in seeking the help that can change your life. At New Found Life, our treatment team has been helping people heal from the disease of addiction since 1993. Contact our admissions specialists anytime, 24/7, for a confidential conversation.