New Year’s Resolutions – Goal Setting

It’s that time of year again…time to make those darn New Year’s resolutions… with good intentions, of course, that they’ll stick! Read on for some advice and simple goal-setting tips for making New Year’s resolutions work to your advantage.

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Set Goals When the Holidays are Behind You

You just got done with your holiday list, so why beat yourself up trying to make a New Year’s resolutions list? Wait until all (yes, all) of your holiday decorations are packed up and stored away, and the kids are back in school, to take a quiet moment to yourself and really think about what you want to accomplish in 2020.

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Reflect On the Past Year to Make Realistic Lifestyle Changes

When you think about the past year, were there things you wanted to do but didn’t? Were there things you did and would like to do more of? Grab a notepad and pen and write down some of these things. I’m sure you’ll be smiling when you think back to the great memories you have from 2019! And, you’ll also be looking toward the future positively and realistically, thinking about what lies ahead of you!

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Making your New Year’s Resolutions Stick

If you can incorporate realistic behavioral changes into your everyday life, and change them throughout the year (with our without some bumps in the road, and not in the very first month of the year), your resolutions are bound to stick!

• Start small – Make resolutions that you think you can keep. If you want to start working out, don’t feel you have to rush out and join a gym. Why not work out at home first and see how that goes? If you want to give up smoking or a certain type of food, don’t quit cold turkey—you’ll miss it and you’ll crave it! Simply start replacing a “bad” thing with a “good” thing (that you also like) to make small “growth” changes.
• Change one behavior at a time – To ensure you don’t get overwhelmed (if your list has several “resolutions”) simply address one at a time. Don’t stress yourself out and don’t worry what other people are doing…you can simply focus on one behavioral change, see how that goes, and add another if you feel the urge!
• Don’t beat yourself up – No one is perfect, so don’t get down on yourself it you mess up. There’s always tomorrow! If you think positively, and look toward the future, you can get back on track and continue toward your goal. Be sure to make time for yourself to reassess your goals if you need to!
• Ask for support – If you feel overwhelmed or unable to meet your goals on your own, consider reaching out to a friend who may have been down the same path as you. Or, do some research on the topic, and write down the key points (good and bad) to help you achieve your goals. If you feel you need professional help to work on any unhealthy behaviors or address emotional issues, psychologists can help you.

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This health information or program is for educational purposes only and not intended to treat, diagnose, or act as a substitute for medical advice from your provider. Consult your healthcare provider and always follow your healthcare provider’s instructions.

Sources
“Making your New Year’s resolution stick,” American Psychological Association. Accessed Dec. 17, 2019.
https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/resolution