Do you find yourself making the same tired resolution every year to get fit, eat healthy or lose weight? You’re not alone. Many of us start off the new year with that “new year/new you” enthusiasm and nothing deflates it more than if you fail. It’s time to give New Year’s resolutions a new reputation by setting the right goals towards positive changes that last the entire year (and beyond!). Here are 5 tips that can help you stay on track with your resolutions.

1. Make it specific

I’ve had several clients who start the new year with big resolutions only to lose hope by February. Why? Because their goals are too broad. In order to monitor your progress, your goals need to be specific and measurable. For example, if you want to eat healthier, you need to break it down: ‘I want to eat a portion of vegetables with dinner every night’. Moreover, record your progress in a journal or food log so you can hold yourself accountable.

2. Be honest with yourself
   

Lets be real, if you’re currently very inactive, it is unlikely that you will commit to exercising one to two hours every day. Accomplishing goals fuels more motivation to keep you going. However, if you are over-reaching, failing to stick to unrealistic expectations can leave you discouraged. So, start small- aim to achieve your activity goal once a week and gradually build up from there.

3. Reward yourself

I always tell my clients to set goals for the month. If at the end of the month you achieve your goal, reward yourself with something worthwhile, such as a massage or new outfit to keep you motivated and give you a sense of progress. Just as you set your goal every month, plan your reward too so that if you ever feel like giving up, just remember that sweet reward is oh-so-close!

4. Get support

To help meet your resolutions, you also need support within your everyday life. Bring a buddy to your workout sessions for a little friendly competition and increased accountability. As well as motivation from your friends and family, you also need a supportive environment. For example, you may need to re-organize your house or office space by eliminating tempting junk foods and replacing them with healthy alternatives.

5. Find the fun

Eating healthy or going to the gym shouldn’t be a prison sentence. If you change your mindset and look for the positives in your goals, you will stick to them. So next time you walk in to the gym, think about the boost in energy you’ll get after your workout and take pride in your body getting stronger. Set goals that motivate you and that you can enjoy striving towards.

You don’t need superpowers to commit to being healthier this year. Whatever your goal, whether its eating more vegetables, running a marathon or simply taking the stairs more often- you can do it!

However, expect to revert to your old habits every now and then. After all we are human and even the best of us have failed before succeeding, so don’t give up! Treat any slipups as temporary setbacks, dust yourself off and try again.

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