If you’re still managing to stick to your New year’s resolutions, you should be congratulated. We may only be in the early stages of the year, but many people will have given up on their promises of change already. If you have given up on getting fit, quitting smoking or eating healthily, there’s no need to feel bad. Life can get in the way of change and bad habits can be hard to break in a mere few weeks. If you’re serious about refreshing your resolutions, take a look at these steps to get you back on track in no time.
Work out what went wrong
If you have tried to stop your bad habits or live a healthier lifestyle before but to no avail, you need to work out what went wrong. Maybe you didn’t realise how difficult it was going to be or maybe you didn’t have the right support behind you. You could have had a stressful period at work or faced challenges with your family. Be honest with yourself and try to pinpoint the reasons behind why you quit the first time. It could just be that you were not ready or motivated to changing just yet. Now you have realised what the cause was you can start off your resolutions on a better footing. You can contact support groups, hire a personal trainer or speak to a counsellor for some help to deal with problems you’ve been having. You’re more likely to succeed if you have the support and positivity from experts, family and friends.
Try a different tact
Another reason you may have quit may be because the method you used wasn’t right for you. We all react to things in different ways. The method you previously used may not have suited your lifestyle or been too difficult to adapt to. So do your research and speak to medical experts about new ways you could try to reach your target. They may suggest a different diet to help you lose weight or suggest using e liquid to help you quit smoking. You may have to experiment before finding something that works so remember to be patient.
Set yourself some new achievable goals
Sometimes we quit because the task seems too difficult or we are overwhelmed by the challenge. You will never reach your end goal overnight, as it will often require you to change bit by bit. Write down your end goal such as losing three stone or quitting drinking or smoking and break it down into smaller goals. These are goals you can comfortably achieve each day or week and promote gradual change. Taking the stairs instead of a lift or cutting back on your cigarettes each week are perfect examples of achievable goals you could use. Over time, these goals will be easier and easier to achieve and you’ll see your progress instantly.
By using these three steps, you can have another go at changing yourself for the better. So there is no need to feel disheartened. Get refocused and motivated in whatever way you can to make this time, the time you succeed.