Starting Strong: Strategies for Maintaining New Year Resolutions

Today is January 4th…how are those New Year Resolutions going? As the confetti settles and the echoes of New Year's celebrations fade, the dawn of a fresh year brings promises of change and self-improvement. Resolutions, often crafted with great enthusiasm, have a notorious reputation for fizzling out by February. Yet, this year is going to be different. This is the year you break the cycle, and together, we'll explore strategies not just for setting resolutions but for steadfastly maintaining them throughout the year.

Setting Realistic and Achievable Goals 

In order to keep your resolution hope alive, you need to have set goals that are realistic and attainable. I’m sure you’ve heard the acronym SMART goals: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. By setting your goals using this framework, the chances of you achieving those goals is much higher. If you set goals that are too difficult to achieve, like I’m never eating desserts again (this would be too difficult for me), it would be too easy to quit trying to eat healthier once I ate a dessert. If you have a big goal, make sure you break it down into smaller, manageable steps, making the journey less daunting. I have a goal to lose weight this year, and I’m breaking it into how much I want to lose quarterly, and monthly. That way I am not so caught up in my weight each week, but can use the weekly weigh-ins to help me meet my monthly goals. 

The Power of Consistency 

Consistency has been a key theme for me in 2023 and will continue into 2024. I shared on social media that I needed to up my flossing game this year. To help me be consistent, I moved the flossers right next to my toothbrush and toothpaste, and told myself that I needed to floss before brushing my teeth. This small change really helped. I can’t say that I flossed every day, but for sure 6 out of 7 days I did. When I went to get my teeth cleaned last month, the hygienist noted that my gums were MUCH better! Consistency paid off! 

The same principle holds true for working out. My goal this year was to close my exercise ring 5 out of 7 days a week. There were a few weeks that didn’t happen, but just having the goal set helped me be consistent in working out. And, some weeks I closed the ring all 7 days! This year I am going to focus more on weight training, so 2-3 of my 5 workouts will be with weights. 

Overcoming Setbacks and Staying Motivated 

Inevitably, something is going to happen to set you back on meeting your goals. You get sick and can’t workout 5 days one week. That’s okay. You go on vacation and come back having gained weight instead of losing weight. That’s okay. We are in this for the long haul. Pick back up and keep going. One way I have overcome obstacles when it comes to goals is keeping a list of my “whys” and referring to it when I have a setback. Why am I trying to lose weight? Why am I working out 5 days a week? My reason why is for my overall physical health and longevity. I want to be able to play with my grandkids someday. This list helps me maintain motivation during difficult times. When I have a week that the scale goes up, I go back and look at my food journal (most of the time I don’t have to look, I know exactly what I ate that caused the gain).  You can always adapt your resolutions rather than abandoning them entirely, fostering resilience and determination. For example, if your goal is to save $100 a month, and you have a job change, changing that goal to a different dollar amount is totally fine, either lower it if you struggle to find a new job, or even increase it if you get a better paying job.

As we step into this new year, remember that the path to self-improvement is a journey, not a sprint. By setting realistic goals, embracing consistency, and navigating setbacks with resilience, you're already on the road to success. And for those seeking a holistic approach to better health, don't forget to join the upcoming January 40-Day Sugar Fast, a transformative opportunity to revitalize your physical health and draw nearer to your wellness goals. The clock is ticking—only a few days remain to embark on this intentional journey- the doors close 5:00pm Sunday, January 7th. Are you ready to make 2024 your year of positive change? Join us, and let's start strong together!