The second Friday in January is known as Quitters Day. This is the day that most New Years resolutions get broken.
People set lofty goals, and start out with good intentions. However, the day is named as people fall out of attempts to adopt new routines.
I stay away from resolutions, and set my intentions for the year without too much pressure. Building good habits and continuing a +0.1% mindset is more important than an arbitrary goal.
What if you don't want to be a Quitter?
I've put together some strategies to help keep your Resolutions alive:
- Break Your Goals into Smaller Steps: Large resolutions can feel overwhelming. To make them more manageable, break them down into smaller, actionable steps. This approach makes your goals more attainable and provides roadmap towards achieving them.
- Celebrate Small Victories: Don’t wait to reach the final goal to celebrate. Acknowledge and celebrate small milestones along the way. These mini-celebrations will boost your morale and motivate you to keep pushing forward.
- Find an Accountability Partner: Sometimes, all we need is a bit of external motivation. Pair up with a friend who has similar goals or someone who can hold you accountable. Regular check-ins with this person can help keep you on track.
- Be Flexible and Adjust Your Goals if Needed: It's OK to reevaluate and adjust your goals if you find them unrealistic or too strenuous. Being flexible with your resolutions can help you stay committed without feeling overwhelmed.
- Remember Your 'Why': Whenever you feel like giving up, remind yourself why you set these resolutions. Reconnecting with your initial motivation can reignite your enthusiasm to pursue your goals.
- Incorporate Your Goals into Your Daily Routine: Integrate the resolutions into daily life. This is the process of building habits. The more your goals align with your regular routine, the easier it will be to stick to them.
- Don’t Be Too Hard on Yourself: It's natural to have setbacks. If you slip up, don't beat yourself up. Acknowledge it, learn from it, and move on. Resilience is key to achieving long-term goals.
Remember, most New Year Resolutions are a marathon, not a sprint. Be patient and kind to yourself, and most importantly, stay committed.
With these strategies, you can keep resolutions alive and turn them into lasting changes.
