New Years Resolutions: Ultimate Guide to Sticking with It

Every year we make resolutions! It’s a new year, a chance to get better – a chance to level up! It’s so exciting to write down all those New Year’s Resolutions. But, when it comes time to stick with the program, lots of us fall short. I have done this nearly every year, but in 2019 – I WILL STICK TO MY RESOLUTIONS!

In the past, I’ve stuck to a few, but every year, I slowly lose focus on them. Shit gets in the way, (and by shit, I really mean my own excuses). In 2019 – I’m over excuses and I am ready to hold myself accountable. I scrutinized every goal and resolutions I haven’t followed through with against the ones I have. Unsurprisingly, I came up with a lot of differences between the steps I took to accomplish what resolutions I did, and those I didn’t.

In addition to that, I did lots of research, asked others and compiled these tips to help you (and myself) stick to every New Year’s Resolution in 2019:

Be Realistic but also Ambitious

You hear a lot of people say to set realistic goals. What they don’t say is how many goals that may appear unrealistic are actually achievable!

How to tell the difference?

You know yourself more than anyone else does. But, as people, most of us tend to do, we underestimate our own will power and abilities.

Go Brick by Brick…

Cliche phrase, I know. BUT, you have to set a clear step-by-step, (usually day-to-day), plan on how to follow through with your New Year’s resolutions. Ensure that your steps are achievable.

Make a list of smaller steps that need to be taken for you to be able to achieve your resolution. Ensure that they are steps that can be taken daily or weekly to achieve your ultimate end game.

Write it Down

Got goals? You gotta write em’ down! You’re 10x more likely to follow through with something if it’s written. Use the free 2019 Resolution Printable I created below to write down your resolutions & the steps to accomplish them 🙂

2019 Resolutions FREE Printable

Motivation is key

You have to really want to follow through with certain resolutions in order to stick with them! You need to keep yourself motivated! Most people who don’t follow through with New Year’s resolutions fail because it isn’t really something they truly want, (it could be they were doing it to please another person rather than themselves or something else).

Keep motivating materials around you always. Here are some excellent ways to keep motivation a part of your day-to-day:

• Use Affirmations
• Cheer yourself on in the pages on your planner 🙂
• Leave yourself Post-It notes that remind you why you’re set on achieving a resolution
• Leave notes on items that you shouldn’t be around – AKA reminders to NOT do something that would get in the way of achieving your resolution
• Create a playlist that motivates you & play it throughout your day
• Meditate
• Check out Motivational Quotes (I try to do a “Motivational Monday” every week on this blog).

Make Lists & Keep them close at hand

List making is a great way to “brain dump” and also to create a clear-cut path to achieving goals & stick to your New Year’s resolutions. It’s also important to prioritize lists & set solid deadlines for achieving certain goals.

Here are some lists to make that WILL help you stick to your New Year’s resolutions:

• Your List of Resolutions! (probably the most important list you’ll make. Consider all aspects of your life when setting resolutions for the New Year).
• “I would be Happier if…” List
• “Stop Doing” List
• “I would like to improve…” List
• “Reflection of Previous Year” List (Make a list of all the accomplishments, downfalls and events that stick out to you from the previous year. This is a great way to set yourself up with new resolutions for the new year).

A Support Network

It’s a lot easier to achieve your resolutions if you put them out there. Let people close to you know what resolutions you’ve made for the New Year!

Put it out there on social media, or better yet, have someone close to you, (especially someone who wants to accomplish the same resolutions you do), work together! You can not only cheer each other on during those small victories, but also hold each other accountable when & if you begin to slip away from the ultimate goal.

Create Routines that will set you up for Success

Rituals and routines are great ways to stay on track. Write them down when you first start out and in time, they’ll become natural.

Here are some Rituals you may want to consider creating: 

• Morning Ritual
• Nightly Routine
• Self Care Routine (ensure that you’re taking time to take care of yourself. Making self care a priority will aid you in achieving your resolutions!)
• Weekly Routines (Set certain days where you will accomplish something that needs done like household chores, something work-related or socially related).
• Here’s an Article I wrote about maximizing Productivity through Completing Tasks on Sundays

Have a “Self Audit” set up Monthly

This is the best way you can track your progress towards achieving your goals! Set a day each month, where you will “audit” yourself on how much progress you’ve made. I check my monthly progress every month on the 22nd.

Depending on what your goal is, make the day about checking stats concerning your resolutions and goals.

Example: As a writer, I track how much writing I’ve completed, (usually by word count), on this day. As a blogger, I check blogging stats. As someone who wants to be a certain weight, I weigh myself and go over exercises I’ve completed, (taking into consideration whether or not its time to increase the duration/difficulty of workouts).

Reward Yourself

You have to give yourself some type of reward, (something to look forward to), once you’ve accomplished your goals/resolutions. Even though, lots of time, the accomplishment itself can be reward enough.

Example: If you’re working towards a savings goal, leave some room to buy yourself something special once you’ve hit the number.

Or – having a “cheat day” while dieting is a good way to stay on track & still being able to indulge

Remember, you can build on each achievement as it’s reached

Never rest on your accomplishments. You can always improve upon them! Reward yourself for achieving the goal but always strive to build on it.

Example: Say you wanted to learn how to play piano and you’ve gotten there! Expand on that achievement by learning to play something you love without looking at the music.

Factor in Setbacks & Emergencies (and be prepared)

I say it all the time: shit happens. We all face setbacks and sometimes emergencies that can either be finance-related or something else. Understand that these things happen, and if you are prepared, you can work around them and keep going towards that goal!

Don’t use getting a cold as an excuse to stop working towards your goal – for example. (I’ve done this before and it was a really weak excuse!)

If you Fail, Keep Trying

We’re only human. We fail…a lot. It happens. I know that feeling; it seems like you’ll never reach the goal you proudly wrote down at the beginning of the year. The deadline has rolled around and the goal still hasn’t been met. It’s okay! Just set a further deadline, evaluate why you didn’t achieve it and just keep trying.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. You can do it! Just keep trying your best, change up your strategy and get to work. You’ll get there!

Here’s to an Exciting New Year!

I think we should always set new goals but the New year is a great time to start. Commit to always making the next year better than the last!

I am still in the process of writing my New Years Resolutions down, and the steps to reach them. (I have quite a lot).

What are yours? Let me know in the comments 🙂

I wish everyone a fabulous New Year & best of luck towards your 2019 Resolutions! You’ve got this!