Hello lovelies! Now that most of us have made our resolutions for the new year, let’s talk about how to actually keep them!

According to several websites, we tend to fail at our resolutions because we make too many goals, we’re not realistic/specific, we don’t track our progress, and we expect too much from our resolutions. Just because you lose some weight or declutter your home doesn’t mean that you’ll instantly become happier and your entire life will change.

You may have seen my posts about my resolutions for 2017 and why I started on them in December; now here are my strategies to keep your resolutions for the new year.

1. DO IT FOR YOU

Here’s a common example of wanting to do things for others: getting back at your ex with a “revenge body.” Even though you might be motivated at the beginning, that can only take you so far. In the end, you need to do it for yourself.

The same goes with all of your resolutions. You’re changing your life, so you need to make sure that what you want comes from your own desires and dreams. You can’t live for others; at the end of the day, you’re in control of your own life.

2. BE SPECIFIC

Saying things like I want to be healthy or I want to succeed in my dream career are good goals, but they don’t clearly show what you’re planning to achieve and they’re not specific enough to draw a long-term plan from it.

Pick resolutions that are specific and then create a step-by-step plan; this will make your goals seem more attainable. If we’re continuing with the “revenge body” example, instead of only working out to look good for your ex, saying you want to lose 10 pounds and creating an exercise/diet plan is more likely to succeed.

In my resolutions for 2017 post, my goals seem a little vague, but I made it more detailed in my personal notes offline. However, I will be doing monthly check-ins on this blog, so you’ll be able to get a better understanding of my personal goals in the future, if you’re interested in that sort of thing!

3. KEEP YOURSELF IN CHECK

I think a lot of us make resolutions because everyone else is doing it. Or we fail at our resolutions within the first couple weeks and say, “oh well, there’s always next year.”

Just because it’s a new year’s resolution doesn’t mean it’s only valid at the beginning of the year; these goals should hold the same weight as goals that you create on any other given day.

Keep yourself in check in this year by writing them down in a place where you’ll always be able to see them, whether it’s your journal, your laptop, your phone, or on the fridge. That way, you’ll be constantly reminded on what you’re working towards and it will keep you more accountable if you don’t plan on telling people about your resolutions.

If you do want to tell someone, find friends and family that you know will never judge you. There are people out there that don’t like to see others doing well, so make sure to confide in people that will always encourage you and are happy for you when you achieve your goals.

Like I said earlier, I’m going to be checking in every month on how I’m doing with my resolutions on my blog. This will be my way of tracking my progress and keeping myself in check.

4. DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE

We’re all human, so we’re bound to slip up from time to time. But resolutions seem to be seen as something to be perfect at or otherwise they’re not worth keeping, which is definitely unrealistic.

I think something we’re scared of is starting. We’re scared of trying in fear of failing. And we’re scared of being new to something or not having it together from the beginning. But we should embrace that fear. Behind every success is probably a mountain of failures, so we shouldn’t beat ourselves up if we mess up.

So if we happen to miss the gym or fall off our diet for a week, don’t feel bad. Just pick yourself up and try again!

 

5. REMEMBER: RESOLUTIONS DON’T START ON JANUARY 1ST.

I probably sound like a broken record if you follow my blog, but I’ve voiced repeatedly that January 1st is technically just another day. We choose to make the beginning of a new year the beginning of a new chapter and a fresh start when we could do it anytime we want.

If you fail today, get back up and try again tomorrow. If you fall off the wagon for a month, try again as soon as you can. Resolutions can be made anytime, anywhere. Set your goals whenever you want, on your own terms. Any day is a good day for a fresh start.

So those are my tips on how to keep your resolutions! I hope you found this helpful and let’s all go out there and work on our goals! ☺ Thanks for reading and I’ll see you lovelies tomorrow!

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