Five Ways To Keep Motivated And Stick To Your New Years Resolutions

It’s all well and good setting a New Years resolution ahead of January, but the key is sticking to it for as long as you can.

Whether that means cutting out a particular unhealthy habit or exercising more, many of us tend to set off on a promising start but run out of steam in mid-February.

If you feel yourself giving up on your goals, Nick Woodward Founder of Essential Living has shared five tips that will help you keep motivated.

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Set realistic goals- so trying to never eat your favourite food again is setting yourself up to fail. Try to strive for a goal that is attainable, such as avoiding something more often than you used to.

Short-term goals- these are much easier to keep, and every small accomplishment will help keep you motivated. Instead of focusing on losing a stone, focus on losing five pounds. Keeping track of things will also help you here, like keeping a food journal.

Reward yourself- it is extremely important to reward yourself for every small achievement you make. If it is to do some form of exercise every day, give yourself a day off at the weekend, or if it is weight loss, treat yourself to a little indulgence- but not too much as this can put you at risk of going off track. Self-discipline is important, and by using this reward scheme you are also setting yourself up for more regular achievements.

Be persistent and patient- sticking to your goals will also benefit you in the long run. Experts say it takes about 21 days for a new activity to become a habit and six months for it to become part of your everyday life. You can see why it is important to stay persistent and patient!

Be vocal- Finally, talk to others about your goals and don’t keep them a secret. Telling friends and family members will help them realise and understand why you may not be going on a certain night out or eating a takeaway at the weekend. Ideally, they will be able to support your resolution to change yourself for the better or improve your health. Even better, find someone else who also has the same or a similar New Year’s resolution and be each other’s motivators.”