8 TIPS TO MAKE NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS THAT STICK

Here we go again. A New Year. And potentially a New You.

If you feel disillusioned by failed attempts to turn things around in the past, don't be.

The New Year is a great time to take stock of where you're at in life and what you would like to achieve in the future. 

I encourage you to DREAM BIG and to truly follow what your heart tells you.

But I also encourage you to be smart by making a plan to fulfill them.

So many times we fail to keep our resolutions, not because they aren't within our reach, but because we don't follow up with a strategy that works.

We remain DREAMERS instead of DOERS.

I know this because I´ve failed at keeping my resolutions a million times.

But over the last couple of years, I´ve managed to set intentions that stick and I've helped hundreds of others do the same.

And here is how:

1. Find a driver that motivates you. A lot of people set “lose weight” as a NY resolution but there’s nothing about this goal that is exciting, inspiring or fun. Instead think of how you’re going to feel once you’ve lost weight? What positive impacts is this going to have in your life? Why is this important to you? See the bigger picture and write down how fulfilling this goal will make you FEEL. This is what will keep you motivated.
2. Set shorter term goals. It’s good to have a clear image of your end goal, but having shorter term goals will keep you motivated along the way. If you want to lose weight then one of your short term goals could be to give up sugar & anything processed for a week. Once you achieve your first goal and that you start seeing results, you will be motivated to keep going. 
3. Set action steps associated with your goals. This is important and what makes the difference between the DREAMERS and the DOERS. If we continue on with the weight loss example and committing to a week of not eating sugar or processed foods, your action steps should be writing a list of recipes and foods you can eat to stick to your goal, making a shopping list, doing your groceries & perhaps doing some meal prepping to make things easier too!
4. Think long term. Try not to commit to anything you know you won’t sustain. So many people kid themselves into believing that they are going to eat broccoli and chicken breast and go to the gym every day for a year. We all know that this isn’t going to happen. You’ll do it for a week, maybe two, then you’ll be back to your old ways.
5. It doesn’t have to be perfect. I used to struggle with this but now I realize that it was just an excuse not to get started or to give up when I felt like I had “failed”. Things don’t have to be perfect to give you results. We all have moments of weaknesses and it’s those who learn how to bounce back from them that last the distance, not those that give up. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
6. If it’s important to you, get someone to support you. You don’t have to do this all on your own. Changing habits and beliefs is hard. Hire an expert in the area of your goal that can help you focus on what truly makes a difference and who keeps you accountable along the way. Again, when it comes to the weight loss example, the most common thing people commit to is “doing more exercise” and/or “eating less” but as an expert I know that this is a strategy destined for failure.
7. Re read your goals or have someone remind you of them. This is one of the things I’ve found the most useful with my Business Coach and that I do with my clients too. It’s easy to retract into our comfort zone when things get challenging or life gets busy but if we keep being reminded of the promises we've made ourselves, we will stay motivated and keep going.
8. Don’t give into fear. Nothing in life comes easily and fear will always roar its head the moment you step out of your comfort zone, even if you’re headed somewhere better. In the past year I´ve left my home of 10 years, I´ve closed down my business of over 5 years and I’ve taken a big leap into the unknown… but the outcome couldn’t have been better. All the changes I’ve made have brought me into a much happier place but the fear that came up along the way was brutal. There were moments where I was crippled and so terrified of going forward that I was ready to give up. Having someone guide you through your fears and not let them stop you is essential if you want to succeed.

Over the past few years I've helped hundreds of people turn around their health, optimize their weight, get fitter, stronger, leaner, more confident and happier in ways that work for them.

I’m opening up a new 6 week personal coaching program starting next week. The spaces are limited. If you want to find out how I can help you, you can apply here for us to discuss your goals.