2019 is finally here and this is the time when everyone starts looking forward to the year ahead and forming the infamous new year’s resolutions.
Whether it is to lose weight, eat healthier, stick to a workout routine or make progress in your career, you’ve likely been down the goal or resolution setting path before.
And if your past resolutions haven’t been a success, it may be because you are taking a few steps along the way that don’t lead to the outcome you want.
Start out on the right path from the beginning and don’t do these things when you start setting your resolutions:
DON'T GIVE YOURSELF A WAY OUT
If you’ve set a big goal and are planning to go after something you’ve never done before, it is going to be hard. There will be days when you want to quit or give up or take a break, and there are certainly days that won’t go to plan. But always letting yourself off the hook on these days, saying “it’s okay if I take it easy today,” or “one day off from exercising doesn’t matter,” may eventually lead you to fall completely off track. One day leads into two or three, a week and a couple months, and before you know it, you’ve lost your momentum and the year is half gone with minimal progress. Give yourself the occasional rest day, but also recognize that some days you may have to suck it up and make it happen – even when it is hard!
DON'T SET YOURSELF UP FOR FAILURE
Speaking of it being hard, as much as it is great to set goals that are challenging and force you out of your comfort zone, it’s a futile effort if there is no hope of success. Nobody wants to embark on a goal they know will simply fail or be too challenging to turn into the desired result. For example, if your resolution is to lose weight, setting the goal to “lose 15 pounds in one month,” isn’t very practical and may actually be setting you up for failure instead of success. Approach your goals with the desire being to pave the path for success instead and keep your goals reasonable and within reach.
DON'T DO IT FOR SOMEONE ELSE
Setting resolutions or goals and seeking to achieve big things starts with one thing: what’s your why. Before you set a goal or embark on a new diet or training plan, get really clear on why you’re doing it and what your motivation is behind it. At some point your path and the steps you have to take will become extremely challenging, make you tired, and even make you think “is it worth it?” But when you have a why that is strong and prominent in your mind, you’ll know it’s worth it. And you’ll push through. Perhaps most importantly however, recognize who you are doing it for. If you are setting goals or committing to making changes just because somebody else is – or is telling you that you should – it may be harder for you to stick to them and reach success.
Have you started thinking about your resolutions or goals for this upcoming year? When you do, be sure to keep these things in mind!
By: Laura Peill, RHN, BScH
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