Got Goals? How To Stick To Your New Year’s Resolutions (For Real This Time)
Goals… New Year’s Resolutions. For some people, they work. For others… they don’t really last. We tend to start out with the best intentions. “This year I’m going to exercise more, eat better and get in shape!” But all too soon, Monday through Friday at the gym turns into Monday and Friday …and then just Monday. We find ourselves hitting the snooze button and skipping out on our morning run.
Is it any wonder most people don’t stick with their New Year’s resolutions? Let’s find out.
Exercising More Among Most Popular New Year’s Resolutions
According to a December 2019, survey, nearly 28% of Americans said that they plan to make New Year’s resolutions for 2020. Among them, the most common ones include: exercising more (50%), saving money (49%), eating more healthily (43%), and losing weight (37%). Other popular resolutions for 2020 include: reducing stress (34%), getting more sleep (30%), sticking to a budget (30%), and focusing on spiritual growth (28%).
But, sadly, according to U.S. News & World Report, 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions fail by the second week of February. And, by the end of the year, 92% have given up.
Sure, we really do want to get fit, but we’re also feeling overwhelmed, out of patience and under motivated. What used to get us excited, now seems like a chore. What gives?
Want to stick to your New Year’s resolution for real this time? Whether you’re a weightlifter, endurance athlete or an obstacle course racer, here are three common excuses that could be standing in your way and how to conquer them.
- Overwhelmed– If your goals are too lofty, you might feel paralyzed not knowing where to even start. The pressure of unrealistic goals may cause you to quit before you even start, which is why it’s important to lay out mini goals with actionable steps and a timeline that lead up to your larger goal.
“How the New Year will turn out is entirely up to you. The attitude you bring, the determination you have, the goals you set all will result in the type of year that you will have. So let your attitude be positive, your determination be strong!”
– Theodore W. Higginsworth
- Out of Patience- As you strive for your resolutions, it’s normal to become impatient in the process. Whether it’s because you’re not seeing progress as quickly as you’d like or you get sick and have a hard time getting back on track, you may find yourself feeling stuck. When obstacles appear, you’re at risk of snowballing if you don’t have a game plan for plan B. So, as you define your resolution, make a point to reevaluate your goals every few weeks to check in and make the necessary changes.
“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl. But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Under Motivated- Motivation comes from creating clear goals. Is your resolution something you truly want? Why? If you don’t know why these goals are important to you, you may find yourself hitting snooze with every excuse in the book more often than not. Take the time to define your “Y” first and then tailor your goals around that to stay connected to your resolution longer than February.
“A new year, a new day to live the purpose we were meant to live. Are you living your passion? are you loving each day? It is never too late to change, taking one step at a time.”
– Catherine Pulsifer
It’s Never Too Late to Set a New Resolution or a New Goal
New Year’s resolutions are just the first step in motivating you to make positive changes. They are a great kickstarter to help you set goals and push you to be stronger, go further and be better than the previous year. But, never be afraid to set a new resolution, even if it’s not January.
And, hey! If you set a resolution but already fell off the wagon, there’s no need to panic. It’s not too late to get back on track.
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
– George Eliot
What are your New Year’s Resolutions? Let us know how you’re doing and tag us at @yolkedfortetropin. We hope this post will ignite (or reignite) your desire to set some serious goals and get YOLKED.
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