How to Make Resolutions You'll Actually Keep

It's that time of year again — the time to reflect on the past and look toward the future with renewed, hopeful eyes. Year after year, when the clock strikes midnight, I'm always filled with curiosity about what New Year magic will bring my way… But one thing is for certain — I will be setting goals and making a New Vision Board!

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m absolutely guilty of falling off after setting new goals, sometimes repeatedly! However, the secret to setting goals is to do so with authenticity!

Recognize What You Actually Want

It seems obvious, but setting authentic goals is harder than it sounds. Social media, family pressures, and even our friends are major influences on the choices we make, whether we realize it or not. We often fall into our own traps when we’re not truthful with ourselves. Don’t get distracted by Instagram posts or the background noise of others' voices. Tune into your own needs and focus on what you want to see change in your life and why. There’s a reason why we put more effort into the things that truly speak to us rather than chasing what we think we “should” be doing.

Create a Plan

Usually, we write down an intention or a goal but fail to create an action plan. However, that’s the most important step! Set your goal, but also create actionable steps and a timeline to reach it. For example, if being healthier is your goal, your action plan could include things like having more “colors” on your plate or figuring out what foods make you feel more energized throughout the day. The goal itself should be permanent, but the action plan can be adjusted as you go. Just make sure to keep going!

Invest

Whether it’s something as small as checking in with a friend or putting down the money upfront for a new membership, creating accountability is crucial. Building new habits isn’t easy, and knowing that someone is cheering you on, or that there would be a loss if you didn’t follow through, can motivate you to keep going! Find what motivates you (whether it's money, telling friends about your goals, social media challenges, setting personal training appointments, etc.) and use it to your advantage.

Forgive Yourself

You also can’t achieve your resolutions without making a few mistakes along the way. Sometimes you’ll sleep in instead of cleaning out your closet like you’ve been planning, or miss a gym class. That’s okay! Don’t let one mistake discourage you from your goal. Just keep moving forward. Once you learn to forgive yourself, it’ll be much easier to get back on track and try again tomorrow. It’s never too late to change…

Be Happy Now

Sometimes, while working toward a goal, we convince ourselves that happiness will come only once we reach that goal. While achieving the goal is important, it’s even more important to allow yourself to be happy with where you are now. Don’t dismiss your past accomplishments, and let yourself enjoy the journey along the way. Otherwise, when you finally reach your destination, you’ll just find something else to stall your progress. Living in the moment is something we can all use more of. There’s a reason they say, “There’s no time like the present!”