7 Tips to make your new years resolution stick
Have you already made a New Years Resolution? And if so, how are you going say far …. at Day 3 ???
Everyone loves a new years resolution. A blank canvas. An opportunity to start afresh, dream big, get excited and make some positive changes. Wouldn’t you agree?I love reflecting on the year just passed - the good and the bad. And consider what might await me this coming year, what I can begin to do to make that a reality and to be the best I can be.
Top new years resolution is…“To lose weight and get fit” are at the top of most peoples’ resolutions for the New Year. We all want to feel and look better, improve our mental, physical and emotional health and wellbeing. We want to live well, whatever definition that takes on for you.
What does living well look like for me?
Establishing new habits
However, making all these new year resolutions can put a little too much pressure on ourselves in a short period of time. As we know, to make a change and create a new habit can take a few weeks and for others of us maybe a whole year, before it seems cemented.
Time to reflect before setting
To create change we need to know where we have been and where we want to go. With ongoing reflection breaks it can help us to set some plans and goals, things to look forward. I have something to help you with this: "Find your bliss in 2017" I'm almost finished it and will let you how to access it.But for now..... take a few breaths here, and ask yourself:
What is important to me?
Is it: family, health, career, personal growth, spirituality, nature, other? What is it that you want to achieve around this topic? Write it down or draw it, just jot it down quickly, now!
Dedication, determination, action
To see the positive changes become a reality we have to employ some qualities like dedication, determination and of course, action. For me to cement my meditation practice into a daily habit I needed to have these qualities and honestly, to just practice. To sit ideally at the same time each day, for my planned length of time, and sit with the thoughts as I began my journey to quieten, then still the mind to be focused. It took some practice.
Go the extra effort
Maybe this new goal requires you to go outside of your comfort zone. That means getting up earlier when its cold, foregoing a social event as it doesn't support your goal, or living a more minimal life to gain in the longer term (look out for my new Minimalist Blog that I'm working on now, ready in a few weeks).
Can you recall a time where you made the extra effort and the rewards paid off?
Try my 7 Tips to make your new year resolution stick:
Keep it simple and achievable. Start with one simple action today, and then enjoy being able to tick it off. Give it a big
Set some targets. Know what the end goal is and work back to create short, medium and long term milestones to aspire to.
Make it a habit. Repeat the positive behaviours as often as you can, not just a once off!
Tell the Universe. Believe in the power that the Universe and nature can offer by clearly defining your goals: think it, write it and say your new goal. Let Mother Nature know what you are wanting, do the work, and then create the space to let it unfold.
Make it real. Write down, draw your goals in a meaningful way for you, feel it and believe it. Share your plans with others, print it out and put it somewhere you (and others) can see it.
Summon external support. Be sure to include like-minded supportive family, friends or experts, so they can support you to achieve your goals, hold your hand when things get tough or keep you accountable if you need extra help.
Compassion for yourself. Making changes isn’t easy, so have regular reflection periods and reset the goals if the pressure is taking you in a negative direction mentally or emotionally. Respect that life is a continuous improvement and we are all an ongoing “work-in-progress”!
If you generally have trouble sticking to your resolutions, why not head over to my ‘Wholistic Coaching’ page to find out how I can help you create goals for 2017 that will actually stick.
Lots of love for the new year, bebliss, gabrielle xx
Contributor: Jacqui Hoggan, Social Media Blogger (thanks Jac x)