Making a New Year’s resolutions is easy; sticking with it is the real challenge. Studies show that only 8 percent of people actually reach their goals. However, with the right game plan, you can achieve your resolutions. Here are some helpful tips on how to follow-through on your New Year’s Resolutions.

Create a Plan

Many people set resolutions that are too broad, for example, lose weight, stay fit & healthy, get organized, spend less & save more money, etc. Instead of saying you want to lose weight, say you want to lose X amount of pounds in X amount of time. To stay fit, I will work out for an hour each day and pack a healthy lunch Monday through Friday.

A good goal is something you can measure, achieve within the year and that is relevant to you. Your goal needs to be measurable otherwise there’s no way to know if you achieved it.

Surround Yourself with Support

The people you associate with can either help you or hold you back. That’s true for life in general and it’s especially true when you have new goals that you’re working on. You’re more likely to be successful in your resolution if you spend time with positive people who help you stay on track.

Avoid Pitfalls

There are going to be things that allure you into giving up on your goals and falling back into your previous routine. If you’re changing your eating habits, it could be fatty foods or alcohol. Trying to quit smoking? Cigarettes will be a huge temptation. If you’re focusing on eliminating debt, you could find yourself wanting to splurge on an expensive item.

Temptations will always be there, but do your best to remove them from your life. It’s much easier to stick to your plan when you make it hard to deviate.

Resilience is Key

Change is one of the most difficult things to do. When you’re use to a routine, it takes consistent effort to change it over the long haul. It’s important to realize that you might have the occasional lapse when you give in to temptation. Don’t beat yourself up about it or wallow in negativity. Instead, get back to your new routine and avoid letting one mistake drag you down.

Reward Yourself

When you have one goal that’s going to take you months to accomplish, it’s easy to lose focus. Set up smaller goals for yourself along the way to your ultimate goal. Rewarding yourself for small milestones can help you stay on track; just make sure the celebration doesn’t go against your resolution.

Embrace Your Future Self

Adjust your priorities by thinking about your future self. Consider what will make you happier in the future; this will help you stay disciplined and focused.

Achieving a New Year’s resolution is no small feat, it takes time and dedication. If you follow the strategies listed above, you’ll improve your life by accomplishing your resolutions every year.

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