It’s hard to find a New Year’s resolution that will stick. We all start out with the best of intentions, and then a month or two later, old habits start to creep back in. It’s no wonder only about half of all resolutions survive even six months.
Changing habits is hard work, but it can be done. Here’s how to stick to your resolutions and make 2020 your best year yet.
Start Small
When it comes to making achievable goals, starting small is the way to go. Maybe one of your big financial goals is to manage your money better. Break this down into smaller, more manageable goals like putting a certain amount into your savings account every month or only dining out once a week. You’re more likely to see short-term success when you break your big goals down into smaller milestones. This may also help you stay motivated.
Find an Accountability Buddy
When you’re trying to develop better habits, it can be helpful to be accountable to someone other than yourself. For example, say one of your resolutions is to be more active. You might find yourself wanting to fall back into old habits after a week or so of consistently working out. That might not be the case if you have a friend waiting for you at the gym. Pair up with a like-minded friend looking to make a similar change and lean on each other when you want to give up.
Make a Visual
Seeing your progress is key to staying motivated and committed, but it can be hard to acknowledge your progress when it’s all in your head. Make yourself a chart or a calendar to show you how far you’ve come, giving yourself visual marks for every day you moved closer to your goals. This can help keep you motivated when it seems like you aren’t getting anywhere.
We live in a culture that thrives on instant gratification, so it can be tempting to give up if you’re not where you want to be a few weeks in. Stick with it. Old habits die hard, and you won’t change your life overnight, but if you keep making small progress every day, you’ll get there.
~Here’s to Your Success
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