Deidra Mangus

Chances are at some time in your life, you’ve made a New Year’s resolution — and then broken it. This year, stop the cycle of resolving to make change and then not following through. If your resolution is to take better care of yourself and get healthy, you will have a much better year if your resolution sticks. Here are ten tips to help you get started.

1.  BE REALISTIC

The surest way to fall short of your goal is to make your goal unattainable. For instance, resolving to NEVER eat your favorite food again or to workout 2 hours every single day is setting you up to fail. Instead, strive for a goal that is attainable, such as avoiding it more often than you do now. You know yourself, how much time you have, what changes you can make.

2.  PLAN AHEAD

Don’t make your resolution on New Year’s Eve. If you wait until the last minute, it will be based on your mindset that particular day. Instead, it should be planned well before December 31st arrives. And if you didn’t that is okay – plan today. Remember you don’t need a New Year or a new month – just a new day with a new mindset.

3.  OUTLINE YOUR PLAN

Decide how you will deal with the temptation to skip that exercise class or have that piece of cake. This could leaning on one of my challenge groups and myself for help, practice positive thinking and self-talk, or reminding yourself how your “bad” will affect your goal.

4.  MAKE A “PROS” AND “CONS” LIST

It may help to see a list of items on paper to keep your motivation strong. Develop this list over time, and ask others to contribute to it. Keep your list with you and refer to it when you need help keeping your resolve.

5.  TALK ABOUT IT

Don’t keep your resolution a secret. Tell friends and family members who will be there to support your resolve to change yourself for the better or improve your health. The best-case scenario is to find a buddy who shares your New Year’s resolution and motivate each other. You will find lots of these buddies in my challenge groups where we are constantly talking about our goals and if what we did today got us closer to our goals or further away.

6.  REWARD YOURSELF

This doesn’t mean that you can eat an entire box of chocolates if your resolution is to eat a better diet. Instead, celebrate your success by treating yourself to something you enjoy that doesn’t contradict your resolution. If you have been sticking to your promise to eat better, for example, reward yourself with new fitness clothing or by going to a movie with a friend.

7.  TRACK YOUR PROGRESS

Keep track of each small success. Short-term goals are easier to keep, and each small accomplishment will help keep you motivated throughout the year. Instead of focusing on losing 30 pounds, focus on losing the first five. Keep a food journal to help you stay on track, and reward yourself for each five pounds lost.

8.  DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP

Obsessing over the occasional slip won’t help you achieve your goal. Do the best you can each day, and take one day at a time. Just because you have a bad day or a bad meal doesn’t mean you should toss all your hardwork in the trash. If your cell phone has a crack in the screen, you don’t go and smash the rest of it – right?

9.  STICK TO IT

Experts say it takes about 21 days for a new activity to become a habit and six months for it to become part of your personality. It won’t happen overnight, so be persistent and patient!

10. KEEP TRYING

If you have totally run out of steam when it comes to keeping your resolution by mid-February, don’t despair. Start over again! Recommit yourself for 24 hours. You can do anything for 24 hours. The 24-hour increments will soon build on each other and, before you know it, you will be back on track.