Happy New Year!

Do you make resolutions? If you didn’t make any this year, have you ever in the past? I think it’s safe to say that most of us have at some point in our lives. But how many of us actually stick to New Year’s resolutions?

As for me, I vowed to get more exercise this year, and it’s so hard for me to make time for it! But I’m determined, and to keep me determined, I did a little research on the idea behind resolutions, as well as how to stick to those resolutions. Want to know what I discovered? Better yet, if you made resolutions of your own, want to know how to stick to them?

Keep reading!

How Many People Make New Year’s Resolutions?

According to a survey from Evernote, about 32% of Americans planned on making New Year’s resolutions this year. Among those that planned to make resolutions, 76% said they’d be taking them more seriously this year. And in August, another poll from Evernote found that 31% of Americans struggled with their mental health because of the pandemic. With all this in mind, it’s not surprising that 66% of this year’s resolutions are health-related.

There’s no question that 2020 was challenging for most of us. For one thing, quarantine made it harder to stay active. As for me, couch sitting became an Olympic sport, and let’s just say that I won the gold medal for my stellar couching techniques during my furlough.

By no means do I mean to speak for anyone else here, but I think it’s safe to say we’re all ready to put our mental and physical health back on the front burner, and whether you want to call it sticking to New Year’s resolutions, or simply trying to get yourself to a better place, here’s how to achieve your goals.

But First, How Many People Actually Keep Their New Year’s Resolutions?

I mean, do you actually know the answer to that question? It’s noble and promising to make New Year’s resolutions. We all should have goals. But again, how many of us are actually achieving them?

As statistics show, ummm, not too many.

Actually, it’s estimated that less than 8% of people stick to their resolutions. In other words, we start with good intentions, but old habits die hard.

So, knowing this, how do we make changes? What can we do to stick to our resolutions?

How to Stick to New Year’s Resolutions

What’s the secret to making your resolutions stick? The Three P’s! Patience, persistence, and planning. Rome wasn’t built in a day. If you have plans or desires to make changes this year, you have to be in it for the long haul.

Be Specific and Make a Plan

What specifically do you want to achieve this year? The more specific and clear your goal, the easier it will be to achieve it. Ensure that your goals are realistic to achieve them promptly and keep you motivated to keep going.

• If you want to lose weight, figure out how much you want to lose and by what date. Be realistic.
• If you want to make a career change, name the position you want to move into and write down a plan.
• If you want to meditate more, be specific about how often and for how long.

Clear, specific goals are the first steps to success and to sticking to your resolutions.

Set Micro Goals to be More Persistent

Setting a specific goal is important, but sometimes, that goal will take some time to achieve. It’s easy to lose sight of your resolution and the reasons you started if you have to wait for months to achieve it.

Try breaking down big goals into micro goals.

For example, if you want to lose 25 pounds by June, you can set a micro goal of losing 4 pounds a month or 1 pound a week.

Achieving these smaller milestones will help you stay motivated and on the right track.

Track Your Progress and Have Patience

Keeping track of your progress will help you stay focused on your goal and give you small bursts of motivation to keep going. And be patient. You didn’t gain ten pounds overnight, and you’re not going to lose it overnight either.

Reward Yourself, Girlfriend!

Finally, don’t forget to reward yourself for a job well done. Achieving a goal takes time, effort, and consistency. Reaching the finish line is something to be proud of, so treat yourself! Whether it’s a manicure, a new outfit, a second home in Europe (hey – a girl can dream!), treat yourself. Damn, woman, you deserve it!

What About My Personal New Year’s Resolutions and Goals?

Let’s get back to square one. What goals did I set for myself? I mentioned more exercise – I should actually be doing that right now, but here I am, typing away!! Nope, wait, I made a plan, I wrote it down, and, shazaam! I’m outa here! See ya later. Gotta go walk – adios, bye!

But seriously, for me, I’ve gotten a little assist (or should I say ‘assistant’) to make those exercise goals happen—more on that in a February post. You’re just going to have to wait!

I’m also attempting to finally lose the rest of my pandemic pounds – ugh. You can stay tuned there, too.

Did you set resolutions/goals for yourself? Would love to hear about them. Drop a comment below.

Now I really am going to get off my butt and throw on my work out stuff. But you – well, feel free to sit on your tush and click on my online boutique, Shopping with Gigi. Betcha find something you like, and more terrific items have just been added to the boutique! Check out the Valentine Collection (I love this necklace!)- fabulous fun fashion jewelry ready to ship out in a week!

Thanks so much for reading this and for being here. Please feel free to share this post and my site – and boutique – with friends. Take a quick sec and email this link.

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