You vowed to welcome the new year with some new habits. How are you doing a few weeks into 2015?
Let’s face it. Making resolutions is easy. Keeping them? Not so much. According to a recent study, only 8 percent of us are successful in achieving the goals we set. Not exactly great odds. So, we wondered why so many of us make promises we don’t keep and whether we should make them in the first place!
KnowMore psychologist Barbara Greenberg says NOT making resolutions is NOT the answer. She says setting goals are bound to increase overall well being. Here are her three tips to help you rock your resolutions…past the first week of January!
Tip #1: Set realistic goals.
We have a tendency to bite off more than we can chew–like losing 50 pounds in a couple of months or eliminating all debt. Instead of setting yourself up for failure with overly lofty goals, set your sights on more realistic ones…. such as exercising twice per week. The marathon can come later. You’re more likely to feel good about yourself and stick to a resolution that’s attainable.
Tip #2: Use the buddy system.
It’s no secret that we function better if we have the support of others. According to a study at the University of Leeds, people who worked with a partner and made proactive contingency plans were more likely to stick to their exercise routine than those who didn’t work with a buddy. It would work for other goals, too.
Tip #3: Reward yourself for the achievement of daily goals.
In the psychology world there’s a concept referred to as the Premack (pree-mack) Principle that suggests we’re more motivated to do things that aren’t exactly fun when we reward ourselves for the accomplishment. For example, when it comes to achieving a certain savings goal, you might say to yourself, “For every $200 I save, I’ll allow myself that extra grande latte– the one that costs way too much but tastes so good!”
Whatever you decide….the important thing is just to start.
This article was syndicated from Business 2 Community: Don’t Give Up! 3 Surefire Ways to Stick to Those Resolutions
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