According to StatisticBrain.com only 37% of 20-year olds keep their resolution and 16% of 50-year olds keep their resolutions [1].
Looking to beat the odds? Here are some tips to help you uphold your New Year’s resolution.
1. Be realistic. It’s okay to dream big, but when it comes to New Year’s resolutions it’s best to keep your goal realistic. For example, if you’d like to lose weight, don’t plan on dropping 30 pounds in the span of two months. Life keeps you busy enough and you can’t dedicate all of your time to upholding that resolution. So when planning resolutions, make sure your goal is doable for YOU.
2. Stay positive. Whatever your resolution is, it’s a resolution for a reason. If you could do it, it would be done already. Let the expectation of it being a New Year’s resolution hold you accountable to reach your goal. However, if the time comes and you experience that first loss, like sleeping through the morning run or splurging on that shopping spree, it is okay. Don’t let that first defeat stop you from trying to continue on.
3. Find a support system. Committing to a resolution with a friend will keep you more accountable than reaching the goal on your own. That being said, don’t guilt each other in keeping your resolutions, as it could result in you not only failing to keep your resolution, but also affect your friendship.
4. Plan ahead. If you know what your resolution is going to be this year, plan before New Year’s. For example, if you’re planning to try and eat healthier, go ahead and clear out all the junk food from your house and replace it with fruits and veggies.
5. Reward system. When trying to adopt new habits into your schedule, be sure to reward yourself to better enforce your motivation to follow through. For instance, every time you get up in time for that morning run, treat yourself by going to get coffee before work. Sprinkling incentives into your day will go a long way.
We know that holding yourself to that annual New Year’s resolution is hard. Keep these five tips in mind to set yourself up for success and ensure you achieve your goal this year. If your New Year’s resolution includes your finances, it can be important to track your progress to ensure you’re setting a realistic goal. Online financial management tools, such as Money Manager, allow you to do this automatically through a Savings or Payoff Goal. You can even set up alerts to notify you as you surpass new thresholds. Set yourself up for success and get started today!
Source:
[1] New Year’s Resolution Statistics, Statistic Brain
NMLS #407985