2020 wasn’t a good year for most of us, thanks in no small part to the ongoing pandemic, but as we love to say, “new year, new me!” A new year is a fresh start to improve ourselves by giving up bad habits and starting new, healthy ones. Unfortunately, when the shine of the new year starts to wear off, it can be all too easy to fall off the wagon.
Want to kick off 2021 with a New Year’s resolution you can actually stick to? These tips can help set you up for success.
Picking a Resolution
The most important aspect of whether or not you can stick with your resolution is the resolution itself! You need to give your resolution careful consideration if you want to succeed; don’t just be spontaneous or pick whatever everyone around you is doing.
- Pick something important to you. It will be a lot easier to lapse on your resolution if you are not truly invested in the outcome. Don’t pick something just because you think you should do it. Instead, pick something you truly want for yourself, because you believe it will make your life better!
- Pick something new. Have you made the same resolution year after year without results? It’s time to try something different. A big part of being able to stick with your resolution is your confidence in your ability to do so, and if you’ve failed to stick to that particular resolution in the past, you may be setting yourself up to fail again.
- Pick something reasonable. You know yourself better than anyone. So while you shouldn’t be afraid to dream big, don’t dream so big that your goal is too daunting or difficult to accomplish. For example, if you want to quit smoking, it might be better to start with a resolution to smoke less than to decide to quit cold turkey, with the idea that once you have been smoking less, it will be easier to quit from that point than from where you are starting now.
- Pick something specific. While “get in shape,” for example, is an admirable (and popular) resolution, it’s also a vague one. It’s much better to choose a specific, actionable goal that you can clearly point to and say, “I am succeeding” or “I am not succeeding.” You don’t want to choose any resolution that makes you say, “I’m not sure what my progress is.” So rather than “I will get in shape,” you might instead say, “I am going to lose 15 pounds” or “I am going to run a marathon in six months.”
- Pick just one thing. Do you have a lot of goals you want to accomplish this year? That’s great! But you may find your ability to achieve them is weakened if you are splitting your attention, time, and willpower in too many directions. Set out to work through them one at a time.
Sticking with Your Resolution
According to one survey, an average of 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by the second week of February. Those aren’t great odds. But you can make a big difference in your chances of success by carefully planning how you attempt to achieve your resolution, and how you will motivate yourself all year long.
Make a Plan
Any big goal can be intimidating, which is why you need to plan ahead and break out your resolution into small goals.
Want to go to the gym more? Going from zero days a week to five days a week may be too much of a shock to your system. Plan on going once a week for the first month, twice a week for the second month, and so on.
Trying to save money? You can start by putting just one dollar a day into your savings account and set a date in the near future in which you can reevaluate whether you are able to put away more.
When you are slogging away toward a big goal, it can be hard to stay motivated, but smaller, more achievable goals ensure you are continually making progress, and continually achieving small wins, to stay motivated!
Share Your Plan
Peer pressure gets a bad rap, but it can be a force for good, too. Let your friends and family know what you are trying to accomplish with your New Year’s resolution. They can become your biggest cheerleaders, and help keep you on track for your goals.
You may also find someone who is working toward the same resolution as you. Shared goals mean you have someone to commiserate with and share advice with.
Reward Yourself for Wins, and Don’t Get Discouraged by Your Failures
Remember, the one thing that’s both pushing you forward, and that can stand in your way, is your willpower. Your ability to achieve your resolution is based on your belief that you can do it.
Be ready to acknowledge your successes! When you hit a milestone on your plan toward your goal, treat yourself to something you’ve been wanting, as long as it doesn’t contradict your resolution. For example, if you met a weight loss goal, rather than treat yourself to dessert, consider investing in some of that new fitness gear you’ve been eyeing.
And if you slip up, remember that a resolution isn’t an all-or-nothing deal. If you were trying to lose weight but gave in and ate a bag of potato chips, that doesn’t mean you’ve “lost,” or that there isn’t any point in still going.
It’s only a slip up, and you can easily get back on track as long as you don’t beat yourself up over it and lose confidence. One study finds that people who successfully accomplish their resolution may still slip up as many as 14 times before they reach it.
You’re not alone, and if they can do it, you definitely can, too.
About Us
Dudley DeBosier is a personal injury law firm helping victims of accidents and their families across Louisiana, including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and other cities. After a serious accident, many victims find that the insurance company they thought they were paying to protect them will instead try to pull the rug out from under them by refusing to pay for most or even all of their accident-related medical expenses.
We don’t stand for that. If you are shocked or left thinking “this isn’t fair” or “this isn’t right” after speaking to the insurance company, it probably isn’t, and the insurance company can and should be held to task.
We work hard to negotiate with insurance companies for the actual amount victims deserve, and when the insurance company isn’t willing to play ball, we aren’t afraid to take them to court. And because we know that when you are unable to pay your bills due to an injury left you unable to work, every dollar you have is already earmarked, and that’s why we never charge any fees unless we win.
Contact us today for a FREE case consultation.
