7 Steps To A Successful New Years Resolution!

1 - Pick a Goal.

Most of us have a list as long as our arm of things we “need” to improve. Go through that list, and pick one thing. Research has shown that while we are capable of multi-tasking, our brain works best when it has fewer things to focus on. So, filter that list down to one goal, pick the most important one. Studies have also found that quite often when we make a positive change in one area of our life, that it can have a domino effect. Let’s use Weight Loss as an example goal; as you start making healthier choices with food, there’s a good possibility that you might also start sleeping better.

2 - Discover your WHY.

Okay, this step is vital. One of the key factors to maintaining momentum towards the finish line is to know WHY you are running in the first place. There are 2 kinds of motivation, external and internal. You’ll need both of them at different stages of the game. External motivations are things like wanting to fit into smaller clothing, or the doctor telling you it’s time to lose some weight. Internal motivators are why YOU want to lose that weight. For some that might be because they take pride in leading by example, the mother who wants to show her child how to make healthy choices instead of just dictating it.

External motivators are great ways to kick-start the program, but they don’t have staying power. They’ll get you through a week or so. It’s on those cold rainy days, when the comfort food is calling you that you’ll want to touch base with your internal reasons to keep you moving forward. Internal motivators tend to have an emotion attached to them. The Subconscious mind is ruled by emotions, so really connect with that reason, so your subconscious can work FOR you!

Make sure you write your motivators down somewhere. The 1^st week of January, you’ll still be gung-ho about jogging, but when the cold snap of February kicks in, you might think running in the cold is a terrible idea and you’ll want to go back and remember WHY you want to keep moving!

3 - Make a Plan.

Now is also a good time to write out how you plan to accomplish the short-term goal. Is exercise involved? What kinds and how often? How will you make changes to your food choices? Make sure that your plan is realistic. Give yourself some flexibility. You are more likely to be successful if you choose to exercise 3-4 days a week instead of 7. And when it comes to food, it’s all about moderation, not deprivation.

Write down your goals, both Long & Short term.

4 - Reward Yourself.

All work and no play isn’t the way to live life! Even competition bodybuilders have a “cheat day”, they go hard 6 days a week, but get a free pass on day 7. For some, that might be a fast-food hamburger at the end of the week, for other’s it might be a bubble bath at the end of the day. It doesn’t need to be a big reward, but you need something to look forward to. Plan for it.

5 - Forgive Failure.

Here’s another biggie! Perfection isn’t possible. There WILL be times when you stumble, maybe even fall. Recognize that it’s just a part of life, get up, dust yourself off and keep it moving! The only time you need to look back is to find out what tripped you so you can make plans to avoid it in the future. Mistakes are okay, they're how we learn what doesn’t work. So, if you slip up, it’s not the end of the road for your goal, you haven’t failed. You’ve simply made a mistake, and that’s okay. Revisit your list of WHY’s if you need a boost in motivation, and get back on the path. You’ll get there!

6 - Go Public / Get help.

You might find yourself tempted to keep your goals to yourself, until you’ve reached them. If you do this, you’re losing out on a valuable asset! You have a team who can help you reach goals. For many of our clients, having someone who they can be accountable to is very important. Sometimes it’s family and/or friends, other times it’s us If you decide to make use of your family or friends, it can be a good idea to let them know what your action plan is. Ask them to help cheer you on. Also, ask that they support your goals by not providing temptation. An example of this might sound like this:

“Hey Aunt Betty, I’ve decided to get healthier and lose 10 pounds. I would love your help while I am working towards that goal. Part of my plan to accomplish this is to make healthier food choices. So, as much as I love I your amazing tiramisu, please don’t be offended if I don’t have any in the next few months.”

It is human nature to want to help others, enlist the support of a small team of loved ones who can be your team.

7 - (Bonus Step) Enlist Your Subconscious Mind