7 Helpful Tips to Make Your New Year's Resolution Stick!

I absolutely love this time of year.
A time when we can reflect on the days behind us and to make plans for a brand New Year.

It's a time we set new goals for ourselves. 

Because after all, if we aren't here to grow, to be more, to have more, to do more--- to improve ourselves, then what's the point?

Hopefully you have one or more thoughts on what you are going to do in 2015.

If you're ready to make some real progress on improving your life, I'd like to suggest a few tips to help make your New Year's Resolutions stick, so they become a permanent part of your life this year. 

1. Don't begin on January 1st
   That may sound strange...a New Year resolution always starts on the first day of the year, right? But since it's on a Thursday this year, it might be more strategic to begin the following week. Give yourself the weekend to prepare and start fresh on Monday.  Also, beginning on any day other than the 1st will help to stop the pattern of failure you may have experienced in the past.  There's way too much anticipation attached to that day and your past experience (aka failures) will be associated with it. Let's break that pattern.
2. Make a determined decision
   What do you think of when you hear "New Year's Resolution"?
   
   Some people think that resolutions are made to be broken.  Or that a resolution is something to dread...something you are forcing upon yourself to do and therefor causes anxiety and ultimate failure.
   Try looking at your resolution this year is a determined decision.
   That's powerful stuff right there.
   A determined DECISION. You are deciding that this is exactly what you want for yourself and you are going to succeed--no matter what. That this is going to become who you are. 
3. Share with others
   Tell people about your goal. Put it out there.  Let them know how much it would mean to you to achieve that goal and how much it would mean to you if they would support your efforts. That's not always easy, as sometimes the ones closest to us are not necessarily the ones who will be on board with change, so choose wisely.  Simply declaring your intent makes it real. It makes you accountable... so share on Facebook, talk to your best friend, whatever. Just get it out there--in public.  But no matter what, don't let anyone stop you from accomplishing your goal. Don't give anyone that much power. This is your life.
4. One day at a time 
   Your goal won't feel so daunting or unattainable if you chuck it down to completing it just one day at a time. Deliberately plan your day.  Set yourself up for success by eliminating anything that might tempt you to return to your old (bad) habit.
5. Change your mindset 
   This is a biggie.  Don't look back longingly on that unhealthy habit.  See it as the enemy. As something to despise.  Something that was robbing you of your health and shortening your life. Heck, if some ONE was doing that to you, you'd be ticked off, right? That's the attitude you want to maintain every time that 'urge' hits you. Most of the lifestyle resolutions we make are to break free from some addictive habit we've allowed ourselves to develop...so just know that it will be a battle.  Your greatest weapon is to control your own thoughts---don't let that little voice in your head (which is controlled by that addiction) creep in to sabotage you. And it will try, you can be sure of that. But being aware gives it less control over you.
6. Visualize your success 
   
   If you make this a daily habit, you'll be amazed at how effective this willbe. Every single day, begin and/or end your day visualizing your success. Close your eyes. Relax and breathe deeply.  Think about how you will feel next year when you have succeeded with your goal.  Think of how proud you will be. Imagine how good you will feel and look. Allow yourself to get emotional about it. (That means you too, guys!)
   I'm serious.  The thoughts we intentionally put in our minds are powerful. And when we attach an emotion to that thought, it becomes 100x more powerful. Our brain does not distinguish between real and the imagined.It recognized and reacts to both and that can be a very powerful tool.
   So take control of those thoughts. Just make sure YOU are the one controlling those thoughts and not that stinky little voice in we all have in our head which always likes to remind us of all of our past failures.  The more you are the one in control of your subconscious thoughts, the less that little voice will creep in to undermine your efforts.
   I promise.
7. Don't give up on yourself
   Anticipate roadblocks and be ready to remove them. You might experience weak moments, times when you are absentmindedly allowing that habit to creep back into your life. You are human, not perfect, and bad habits don't die easy. So be gentle with yourself. Don't view that one moment as a failure and a reason to quit. Become aware of how it happened, learn from it and move forward even stronger and more resolved to succeed because of that experience.

Let's make 2015 an epic year! You can do this! 

You are stronger than you think. Just give yourself a chance to prove it. 

Cheers! To Your Thriving Life,
~Anne