Make a Resolution You’ll Keep

December 31, 2018

Why do so many of us fail to keep our New Year's resolutions? Often we make the wrong types -- resolutions that are non-specific, not meaningful and/or unattainable. And while it's great to aim high, it's even better to feel that sense of achievement when we actually meet our goals.

One of the "wrong" types of resolutions that I hear every year is the vow to lose 5 (or 10, or 20) pounds. Maybe you really do want to lose those pounds, but I believe it's better to focus on specific steps that you will take to get there. Say, vow to give up soda (or Frappucinos or whatever your weakness is) or to limit dessert to 2 days a week, or to take a 15-minute walk every day. And choose something you can STAND to do, not something that will make you miserable (like giving up wine -- haha).

It doesn't have to be all about food, either. Find a resolution that is meaningful to you. Love dogs? Vow to volunteer in a shelter once a month. It'll make you feel good, reduce your stress and will help some furry friends at the same time.

Lastly, make sure you have a concrete way to guarantee that you do what you aim to do -- set a daily (or weekly or monthly) reminder in your phone, put a sticky note on your computer, tell people about your resolution and have your friends and family hold you accountable. Sometimes just talking about it out loud is all the reinforcement we need.

I love New Year's resolutions and the feeling of a fresh start -- the chance to improve something small each year. And who doesn't have SOMETHING they can resolve improve?