New Year resolutions

By the end of January, or maybe at a push the beginning of February, many of us will have given up on our New Year resolution – whether it was to learn a language, drink less or lose weight. Despite all our good intentions, we will have gone back to our old ways and unhelpful habits.





But there are a number of things we can do to improve our chances of sticking with our resolutions. Whatever the time of year, if you feel your commitment to change flagging, there are some steps you can take to get back on track.





Firstly, write down your resolution and keep it somewhere you’ll see it every day. For example, write down the amount of weight you would like to lose and the time it will realistically take you to lose it. Writing it down means you can easily remind yourself of your original weight-loss goal and so track your weight-loss progress. It sounds simple but this really is the first step to committing to the change you want to achieve.





Or you could try using what are known as "SMART" objectives – meaning that your objectives have to be Specific, Measurable, Agreed upon, Realistic and Time-based. For example, losing three stones by the middle of August could be considered a "SMART" resolution because it can be tied back to all of the above.

Remember to be sure to reward yourself when you reach certain milestones. If your resolution is to lose 20 pounds, reward yourself when you lose five pounds, then ten pounds and then 20 pounds. Just be sure to choose non-food treats such as a spa treatment, a CD, a trip to the cinema or some new shoes.





Similarly, make sure you’re getting the right kind of support. Making any type of lifestyle change can be hard and getting some support can help you stay motivated. If your resolution is to lose weight, you might want to get an overweight friend to join you on your diet. Another option is to attend a weekly group meeting attended by people in a similar position to you.





So, if you have already failed to keep the resolutions you made in early January, why not try setting yourself some new SMART resolutions and getting yourself some support, whether your goal is learn a new language or lose weight make this year the one you stick to your resolution and goals.