Within the first month, almost half of all of the people who made New Years Resolutions will have given them up completely. We’re almost half way through January and, unfortunately, the odds don’t seem to be ever in our favor!
If you’ve slipped up, let them go, or never started in the first place, setting a few goals for yourself and for your year can be an incredibly helpful way to make 2015 your best year yet. Thanks to visual.ly, we’ve got 10 ways that you can rescue your resolutions.
1. Write it down. It may seem overly simple, but it’s been shown that taking that small extra step can make you up to 10 times more likely to accomplish your resolutions.
2. Take baby steps. Getting healthier, saving money, and making better grades are some of the most common resolutions people make. But, these are all goals that can’t be accomplished in a day and trying to completely change everything too quickly can make resolutions even harder. Take it one day at a time and within a few weeks, you’ll be well on your way to meeting all your goals.
3. Work with others. Finding a role model or someone who can hold us accountable can be crucial for meeting our goals. We may not have thought about role models or mentors since grade school, but finding someone who has already run the race or will run it with you can make all the difference in the world. Some of our greatest resources are the people around us.
4. Exercise willpower. I don’t mean “just do it” in a burly gruntish kind of way, but do things that will give your will-power a real workout. Just like building any muscle, getting your will in shape takes time and effort.
5. Sleep on it. Our brains need 7 to 9 hours of good rest each night to stay in tip-top shape. Pulling all-nighters or even sleeping poorly can make it that much harder to make the changes that you’ve set out for yourself. Give yourself the best chance and get some well-deserved rest.
6. Limit stress. Stress can come at us from all sides, but we can fight back by ensuring that we are giving ourselves enough time to recuperate. Take a break from everything and enjoy the moment every once in a while. A nice walk, some exercise, or a warm bath can help you remember the big picture and give you the peace of mind to make it through.
7. Eat healthy. My dad always told me that my body was like a car, and if I didn’t put good gas into it, it wouldn’t run very far. A healthy diet full of nuts, legumes, veggies, and whole grains will give your mind and body the energy it needs to meet even the toughest challenges.
8. Avoid procrastination. This may be the hardest of the hard for many of us. But, adopting a do-it-now approach to work will help you gain a sense of positive momentum while helping you accomplish your goals. It also helps you do #4 as well!
9. Reward progress. Yes! Give yourself a healthy reward whenever you meet smaller goals along your way. Whether it’s a extra special meal or a few extra minutes playing Trivia Crack, rewarding yourself is a great way to stay on track.
10. Visualize success. I like to do this in the morning, but take just a minute to imagine what it will be like when you reach your goal. Take some time to remember the big picture and why you are working to make a change in your life.
