How To Make Your New Year’s Resolutions Successful

Happy New Year from Wellthoughts!

We are very excited to start our first true year of operations, we have quite a bit in store for you! In assessing our goals of how we would like to both grow and learn, we came across a few obstacles that we – as well as many of you – might come across when trying to fulfill your resolutions. Everyone wants to change themselves for the better in the new year, but the fact of the matter is that 80% of New Year’s Resolutions fail – which is a clear indicator that the way we go about trying to accomplish our goals are wrong.

Here are a few points to keep in mind to encourage success when implementing your New Year’s Resolutions:

1. Don’t immediately jump into the shark tank – Moderation is key when it comes to a new life change.

We tell ourselves that we can handle anything, but fail to realize that it is very easy for us to become overwhelmed. Instead, a smarter solution is to slowly implement our goals – one step at a time. For example, say I wanted to run a marathon next year. Starting Jan 1st, I’m not going to run 10 miles – I haven’t even ran 1 yet. So, instead I run 3 miles and walk when I feel tired. That way, I’m promoting a positive experience that isn’t too strenuous, and I’m able to carry on my next day without being completely sore and unable to function. Starting small is key to allowing your body to adjust – so don’t sabotage your goals by taking on too much in too short of a time span.

2. Make it fun.

We often think of New Year’s resolutions as a new path to do something we feel obligated to do – not something we normally want to do. If you dislike like running and make your New Year’s resolution to run twice a week, then you are setting yourself up for failure. Once those bad days come around, you’re not going to want to do the things you feel are a chore to do. As an alternative, either make the activity fun, or find a variation that is enjoyable. Maybe running isn’t the most fun, but lightly jogging or even walking through beautifully scenic areas can be fun. And if you pair this with the advice from the first point, you will be sure to leave an impression in your mind that will change your perspective on what it really means to achieve your goals – that they are fun, and something you look forward to doing.

3. Have passion behind your intention.

Oftentimes we fail to follow through with a resolution because we lack the passion behind it. Passion breeds discipline, and discipline leads to habit. Habit holds the power to change your life. If you are able to identify the root desire behind a resolution rather than the superficial aspects of one, chances of fulfilling it will be much higher. For example, if your goal is to lose 10 pounds this year merely because you want to look better, you might still struggle with going to the gym every day. However, if your goal is to lose 10 pounds this year because self-discipline is an area that you need to improve upon not only in your weight but in other areas of your life, chances of sticking with your set routine will be much higher.

4. Have one resolution that helps other people.

While resolutions often tend to revolve around ourselves and the changes that we would like to make in our lives, I challenge you to have at least one resolution that will improve the lives of others. It could be devoting your time every few weeks in service to others, sending a positive note once a week to an old friend with whom you’ve lost touch, or smiling at a random stranger each day. Ultimately, these small acts of kindness will not only benefit the other person but benefit you as well.

We wish you a joyous, healthy, and blessed New Year in 2019! – Drew & Jac