Keep those Resolutions in 2022
Did you know that most new year’s resolutions don’t last even one month?This coming Friday (the 2nd Friday) in January is the fateful day when most resolutions dissolve giving most goals hardly a two-week shelf life. Today, resolve to ‘recharge’ your 2022 resolutions with these suggestions:
1. Set fewer goals. When you stick with and achieve two goals, it's much more effective than setting five goals that you don't keep! And when you set goals that depend on each other, you are reinforcing success. So let's say you want to losing 15 pounds by working out 3x a week with a friend. That can actuall cover THREE goals: weight loss, physical activing and more time with friends. As you achieve each goal, you'll reap the rewards and be movitated to set and achieve another goal.
2. Create new habits using visual cues. Put your running (walking or whatever workout you choose) shoes in the same place each day so it will signal you to get active. Have a goal to walk your dog more frequently? Hang that leash by the door so you see it and want to achieve it. Habits are efficient, conserve energy, and establish routines. You visual cues can help trigger your motivation.
3. Don’t get down on yourself about an occasional slip up. Believe it or not, a slip here or there can actually strengthen your resolutions and help you achieve them. According to an interview with Dr. John Norcross on NPR, 53 percent of those who kept their New Year’s resolutions for two years experienced at least one slip-up, and the average number of slips was 14. Those who managed to maintain their resolutions didn't succumb to failure. They let that slip encourage them to continue towards their goals and not give up.
4. Have an "Accountability Buddy". Social support can be a game-changer. Whether you have a friend or family member to motivate you and hold you accountable or choose to use your social media as an accountability platform, knowing someone is watching and with you in your journey can be essential for many. You can have different buddies for different aspects too. Maybe you need a healthy lifestyle buddy, a spiritual buddy, a dream buddy... set a goal and share it with an accountability buddy who will help keep you on track.
5. Expect and fight self- sabotage. It's true... many time we are our own worst enemy – and major self-critics! Name your self-critic and talk back to it. If you're symbolic and need a place for your critic, have a box or jar near by where you can take the feed back from your self-critic and throw it in that box or jar and lock it away. Let the positive you take over and know that you can do anything you set your mind to. You got this. Enjoy your 2022... every single day of it!
