Where did your New Year’s resolution go?
Lake Tahoe as seen from the Cave Rock trail
Do you make New Year’s resolutions every year?
If so, do you find yourself stuck in the familiar cycle of enthusiasm, optimism, frustration, hopelessness, and burn-out? What is it about resolutions that make them so hard to keep? Every year, many of us who seek to improve, evolve, or just fit into those sexy jeans again, make promises to ourselves. We promise this oftentimes on social media and believe that our efforts will succeed at last. And Voila! We miraculously end up losing 20 pounds, getting enough sleep, and haven’t touched a drink three months later.
Oh, right, that’s not at all how that goes.
Do you ask yourself what went wrong? I can take a few guesses. Your plan didn’t accommodate real life. By that, I mean, it didn’t consider having to work late nights, having to care for a sick pet, child, or loved one. You didn’t expect to get that nasty bug everyone else got. You ran out of money to keep paying for that expensive membership. You were starving all the time! You really needed that drink after such a stressful day! These new jeans look even hotter, and you really needed to get a sexy top to go with them! Maybe these weren’t exactly what got in your way but you get the gist. Resolutions are full of hope and run low on the real-life factor.
What the secret to keeping them?
I made four resolutions this year. I’ve kept them all. Ironically, I’m not a resolutions-type of person. I make changes throughout the year as I see fit. Some stay, some totally fall apart like they were held together with toothpicks and Elmer’s glue during a massive wind storm. What was different this time?
I’ll share a few tips with you:
I gave myself permission to start over multiple times. Every time one of my resolutions seemed destined for retirement, I got back on the horse and tried again. It eventually became a habit. Some are still fragile and may require starting back up all over again. That’s ok. Make restarting part of your process.
I engaged my partner for support. It was easier to stick to it if I had someone remind me that we had mutually agreed to proceed on a new path. In other words, find a friend, a group, or recruit a partner or family member to do this with you.
I made the reasons deep and personal. For example, wanting to lose weight to look good never works for me because I’m appreciative of my body regardless of its size. However, if my health depended on it, I’d stick to a weight loss program with certainty. If I truly believe in the value of a resolution, it becomes easier to stay on track.
If you want to change, you have to want to change. I believe in you. Look how far you’ve come!
Good luck,
xo, f