By establishing habits that are aligned with your goals you’re far more likely to achieve them more quickly. Below are 7 tips that will help you establish your New Year habit resolutions.
- Make a plan:
Once you have identified your habit goals, create a plan for how you will develop the new habits. This might involve setting aside specific times for your behaviors (would be habits), finding a workout companion, or adding constraints like creating a budget for your new spending habit. - Be specific, and establish “Targets”:
Make your habit goals as specific as possible by establishing “targets”. Instead of saying, “I want to exercise more,” try to be specific and “target” to “exercise for 25 minutes three times a week.” This will help you to know exactly what you need to do to reach your habit goals. - Start small:
Instead of making several changes at once, focus on just one, small, achievable habit goal. Then, be sure to set low “targets” for the habit. Like 10 pushups instead of 100. This will help you to build momentum and make progress without feeling overwhelmed. - Track your progress:
Keep track of your progress toward your habit goals. This can be as simple as marking off days on a calendar or using a journal to record your progress. Seeing your progress will help to keep you motivated and on track. - Find support:
Don’t try to go it alone! Find friends or family members who can support you and hold you accountable. You can also seek out online communities or join a support group to connect with others who are working towards similar goals. - Stay flexible:
Don’t be too hard on yourself if you slip up or don’t make progress as quickly as you had hoped. IIt’s normal to fall off track. Setbacks and challenges along the way should be expected. You can always get back on track when you stay flexible and keep trying. - Celebrate your successes along the way!
This is another reason tracking daily is so important. Tracking your habits helps to remind you of your successes. So, don’t forget to celebrate your victories, no matter how small they may seem. This will help to keep you motivated and give you a sense of accomplishment as you work towards your goals.