The Best Way to Stick to Your New Year’s Resolutions: Choose Joy
The Best Way to Stick to Your New Year’s Resolutions: Choose Joy
It’s a New Year and a New You – right?
If you’re setting resolutions for the new year, be sure the goals you’ve set for yourself will influence joy in your life, says BHI’s Dr. Ellen Slawsby.
“The biggest thing is remembering that New Year’s resolutions are for us to enhance the value of our lives,” Dr. Slawsby said.
Whatever your resolution – diet or exercise, improving relationships, doing good deeds – reminders and rewards are key to staying true to your goal. Here are some simple tips Dr. Slawsby recommends as you move through the year:
- Setting reminders: once a week, remind yourself (via scheduled reminders on your smartphone, notations in your pocket calendar, post-it’s on your fridge) to evaluate how you’ve done in the past week. By doing this, we’re also reaffirming that this is an important goal and if we didn’t do well this past week, then we will commit to doing better next week.
- Journaling: jot down some notes about how adhering to (or not adhering to) your resolution is making you feel. Are you happier now that you are exercising more? How did you feel about reaching out to a friend you haven’t heard from in a few years? Did you feel pride or gratitude when you donated to a charity? As the year progresses, you will be able to look back and reflect on your progress and be grateful for what you have and all you’ve accomplished. “It brings you joy all over again,” Dr. Slawsby said.
- Checking in with others: sometimes letting others know about our resolutions can help, because they will also give us gentle reminders. Also, for some, it’s not a commitment unless others know we’ve made it.
- Rewarding yourself for good behavior: if you’re dieting, put a dollar in a jar for every pound you lose, so you can splurge on a new clothing item for yourself when you meet your goal. If you’ve been volunteering more time to others, also reward yourself with time spent on things you love – reading, gardening, etc.
“Resolutions aren’t just to fix problems, but to reframe our thoughts and lives in a more positive or healthier way,” Dr. Slawsby said. “You’ve got to not only stop eating cookies, but change the way you think about food – and yourself – if you want lasting change.”
