3 tips for keeping your New Year’s resolutions
We’re already into 2018 — are your resolutions still on track?
If you’ve slipped up already, here’s how to revive your resolutions and make them stick.
According to a recent study, only 8% of people in the US achieve the goals they set on New Year’s Eve(1). But before you lose heart and pick up that chocolate bar or light a cigarette, consider these top tips to help you stick to your resolutions this year.
1. Plan ahead
You may have made your resolution at the stroke of midnight, without much thought of how to achieve it. If this is the case, chances are slim that you’ll sick to your resolution until next New Year’s. So before you go any further, take some time to plan out how you’ll actually succeed. For example, if your aim is to save the deposit for a house, come up with a specific, measurable goal — in other words, the amount you hope to put away by the end of the year.
Then, break down the steps you need to take to achieve that goal. How much will you need to save each month? Are there any unnecessary costs you could cut out to make it easier to save? And don’t forget to plan ways to overcome any potential obstacles to your success — like an unexpected major expense or a drop in your motivation level as the year progresses.
2. Keep at it
If you've kept to your resolution so far, congratulations! But even if you’ve hit a stumbling block, it’s never too late to start again. Changing ingrained habits takes time and persistence, and part of the process can be moving two steps forward and one step back.
Focus on the end goal, and find ways to remind yourself why you chose the resolution: imagine yourself walking into your new home, taking the trip of a lifetime or working in the job you really want. Research suggests it takes about 66 days (around two months) to form a new habit,(2) so give yourself the best possible opportunity to succeed by committing each day to achieving your goal.
3. Call in the experts
Whatever it is you’re trying to achieve, chances are there’s someone out there who can help you get there. Depending on your goal, this could mean hiring a personal trainer, talking to a nutritionist or making an appointment with a recruitment specialist.
If your resolutions are financial ones, you might be surprised to learn just how helpful it can be to get professional advice from a financial planner.
To find out more, speak to one of our qualified financial advisers. Contact us today.
(1) Forbes (2013), ‘Just 8% of People Achieve Their New Year's Resolutions. Here's How They Do It’.
(2) Psyblog (2009), ‘How Long to Form a Habit?’