New Year's Resolutions - how to keep them

Most of us make New Year's Resolutions, but how often do we actually succeed in achieving them? Here's a few coaching tips to make sure that 2010 is the year that you do:

• Get specific. You're much more likely to succeed if you know exactly what you want to be different. Vague resolutions like 'go to the gym more' are rarely kept.

• Write out your resolution, and write it in the present tense. For example, you could replace 'I will go to the gym more' with 'I go to the gym three times a week for 45 minutes'. It tricks your mind into thinking that you're doing it already. And writing anything down makes it more likely you'll achieve it. Especially if you read your resolution outloud everyday.

• Keep it positive. Avoid resolutions which are about cutting down or dropping things. Focus on what you want rather than what you don't want.

• Break big resolutions down into steps with deadlines - and keep focused on taking just one step at a time.

• Give yourself a reward when you've achieved an interim step. Plan what these will be beforehand and they become a motivation in themselves. It's really easy to lose motivation if your goal seems a long way off.

• Get allies. Tell people what you're doing and ask for their encouragement. You can even ask them to hold you accountable if that helps. But make sure your allies are really positive and supportive. If friends and family are more like to be discouraging  - keep your resolution to yourself!

Good luck - you can do it!

 

Comments

[brenda]

Some top new year tips. Thank you!

[Natalie Charles]

Brilliant! I was feeling a littel overwhelmed by the task I have set myself - but this will really help me work out a plan and keep me on track! I have signed up to 10:10... It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of a huge problem like climate change, but by uniting everyone behind immediate, effective and achievable action, 10:10 enables all of us to make a meaningful difference.
Go to http://www.1010uk.org for more!

[Katie Duckworth]

What a great New Years Resolution, Natalie. 10:10 is a fantastic way of making a difference by taking small, manageable steps. And having the support of a wider group of people will be really motivating.

Really good luck with it.

Katie

[Katie Duckworth]

Glad it was useful!