It's been one week now since 2017 has started.
How many of you have set some new year's resolutions? Did you stick to them until now?
Almost every other person sets some new year's resolutions.
It's just so tempting - lose weight, quit smoking, drink more water, save more money, be more kind - wouldn't that be amazing? As the clock strikes 12 at December 31st, suddenly you become a new person, right?
Well... almost every other person sets some new year's resolutions, but only 8% actually succeed and stick with them.
I personally believe that you don't need a new year to make a resolution, to work on yourself and to become a better person! All you need for that is a goal that is strong enough to motivate you long-term.
Why is it so hard to stick to new year's resolutions?!
1.) Setting too many resolutions.
The most common mistake ist most probably to set too many resolutions. Like mentioned above, it seems to be so tempting to change everything negative about yourself - that would be a dream come true, right?!
It doesn't work that way!
The more resolutions we set, the more likely it is that we abandon all of them.
You can't become the perfect human being over night.
It would be much better to focus on one or two main goals, and to keep reminding yourself of them everyday.
2.) Resolutions that are too vague
"Being more healthy" must be one of the most popular new year's resolutions ever.
But if your goal is simply to "be more healthy", you have way too many options to breach it.
Be very specific - for example, telling yourself to go for a run 3 times a week for 30 minutes or to stay away from sugary drinks. This way, you are setting clear boundaries for yourself.
3.) Resolutions that are simply too difficult
Quit smoking, lose 10 pounds, become an optimist, and all of that in one night? When setting resolutions / goals, you should actually think about how realistic they are.
What helps is to divide your goal, for example losing 10 pounds, into many smaller goals.
This way you don't only have a clear structure and an overview how far you've come, but you also feel positive after completing every step.
... And what if you fail?
If you "fail", if you slip a few times and breach your resolution - don't be hard on yourself.
Multiple psychology studies have shown that self-compassion is a key factor in staying motivated long-term and after making a mistake.
Being hard on yourself and punishing yourself will only lower your motivation and overall well-being.
Instead, you should re-affirm yourself that you tried, that no one is perfect, and that mistakes happen.
As long as you are mindful about it, recognize the mistake and its impact, and analyze the situation to learn how you can avoid it next time, there's nothing to worry about.
You don't need a New Year to start a new goal and work on yourself! But still, let's start 2017 with focus and motivation and make it a good one. You can do it!
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