Wendy Grace
Wendy Grace
Like a lot of people I made a lot of New Year’s Resolutions, I had a lot of enthusiasm in January, but now am finding it really difficult, have you any advice as to how I can stay motivated?
Many of us make New Year’s resolutions that are hopeful but unrealistic and come February, the only thing left on our list of goals is excuses. Even though the majority of us find it hard to keep our resolutions after the first month, those of us who do set goals are much more likely to change our habits. So perhaps it’s time to reassess the resolutions you set in the first place. One of the most common reasons for failure is setting unrealistic goals. If you had an overall resolution try to break it down and take it week by week. For example if one of your resolutions was an ambiguous to “get fit” or “lose weight” you need to set a specific and a realistic goal for this week. It could be that you are going to get to the gym twice, or you might walk to work two mornings a week. By working towards smaller goals it makes the larger goal much more achievable. Celebrate all the little success and it will make the finish line seem that bit closer.
Being hard on yourself can also ruin your motivation. Looking back on how you have failed isn’t going to help. It’s important to start fresh, with more realistic, short term attainable goals in mind.
I recommend that you print out your weekly goals and stick your plan to the fridge, there is something truly satisfying about checking off that run you promised you would do. It’s also good to have a reminder staring you in the face. Make sure you put your weekly goals in your calendar, at the beginning of the week map out the time and space to actually achieving the goal. Let’s say you have decided to try and eat a little healthier – have you put aside the time to do food preparation? It’s also really important to share your weekly goals with someone supportive, when we have to be accountable to someone other than ourselves it makes it more difficult to make excuses.
It’s so important to stay positive. For so many people January feels like the longest month of the year, but now spring is looming, the evenings are getting longer and brighter and better weather is hopefully not too far away. It’s also important to make plans for things to look forward to. Remember all those friends and family members that when you met up over Christmas you said “we must meet more often?” Before you know it another year will have passed and you will be making the same empty promises again. Plan to meet up with friends and to do something you truly enjoy regularly, this means when there are elements of your goals find difficult, having plans to look forward to make it that bit easier.
I would suggest just working on one goal at a time, once that goal is now part of your routine (or even achieved) you can start thinking about some of the other items on that list, and remember taking small achievable steps, while being accountable will hopefully lead to big results.