3 Tips to Help You Stick to Your New Year’s Resolutions in 2019

It’s the New Year and once again you’re making New Year promises and resolutions.

Perhaps you promised yourself to lose weight, stop smoking, go on more dates or change your job in 2019.

You feel good about your plans, you’re excited and committed to making a change for the better. You even start to research local gyms and meeting groups, or you hop onto Seek and check out the latest jobs that appeal to you.

After a week or perhaps a month you start to fall back into old habits and patterns of thinking and living your life.

Once again you start to make excuses and justify your inaction or procrastination.

The inner voice gets louder and stronger, telling you that ‘you don’t have time’or ‘you don’t have the money’or thatlife is okay as it is- why change! You listen and even agree with your inner voice and once again you play ‘safe’, you don’t make the changes you promise yourself and wonder why life just doesn’t deliver what you want.

Statistically, we know that about 89% of New Year Resolutions fail.  

So why is it that we are doomed from the start when it comes to making changes for better and healthier lives?

The answer is simple:

We feel overwhelmed by our huge vision and start to worry or fear about what’s involved in reaching our goals. Before we even take a few steps, many of us become debilitated, depressed or simply unable to cope with what seems to be the unattainable goal ahead.

So how do you keep overwhelm and failure at bay?

Follow these 3 time-tested and effective steps that will ensure that you reach your goals and make changes for good.

1. Create an intention

Intentions shift the way we think and influence, modify or change our behaviour so that we become the intention that we have created for ourselves.

For example, instead of saying “I want to lose weight’– instead start with the intention of being Healthy. You can create the intention of health and well-being by saying

“I choose to create the intention of being healthy in my life’.

This one statement shifts your mindset from ‘doing’ to ‘being’. As we are all human ‘beings’ and not ‘human doings’ - it makes sense to create intentions of being healthy, happy or wealthy (or whatever resonates with you).

By creating an intention of being healthy for example, you will naturally ‘do’ healthy things such as eat moderately, reduce your sugar intake and include regular exercise into your life.

The intention to be, removes the pressure, guilt or disappointment of not sticking to a ‘diet plan’ or losing weight.

2. Replace one negative habit with a positive habit

Following from our intention to be healthy, you can choose to replace your mid-morning sugary snack with a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts (not too dramatic) but sustainable and effective.

Over time continue to replace negative with positive habits. The key to success is to make small and sustainable changes. Before you know it, not only will you have lost a few kilos, you will also have shifted your old patterns of negativity and allowing your negative beliefs to keep you stuck and unhappy.

For those of you who need the extra encouragement, find a ‘buddy’ or ‘coach’ or ‘mentor’ to hold you accountable to your intention. Never under-estimate the value of someone who is on your side.

3. Reward yourself

Every achievement (even a small one) deserves recognition. Go ahead if you’ve made improvements and you feel great – then be a friend to yourself and do something special or make that indulgent purchase.

Life is meant to be lived. We are here for a short-time- enjoy and revel in your success. You deserve it, especially if you’ve worked hard to improve your life.

Changing your life for the better is not as hard as many people think. It certainly takes commitment, but once you know how intentions work and prioritise ‘being’ before ‘doing’ your success is guaranteed.

What have you got to lose? Why not create your intention today!

If you want to know more about the benefits of a happy and healthy divorce, then email pamela@healthydivorce.com.au for more information.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to replace any specific advice from a lawyer, counsellor or any other medical professional. The article is general information only.