How to set successful New Year resolutions

Graphic with a blue border featuring the heading 'BLOG POST' in bold pink text. Below, the title 'How to Set Successful New Year's Resolutions' is written in large blue capital letters. To the left is a white woman sat cross legged with a pen and pad with a pondering look on her face.

September 1, 2013 Emma Shergold Recent Posts All Posts Life Coaching Mental Health Neurodivergence Office Management Run Coaching Sports Massage Virtual Assistance My response to: “So, what do you do?” How to set your own goals What makes me a good life coach 5 reasons to use a password manager There is no such thing as Blue Monday Receiving a middle-aged autism diagnosis How to set successful New Year resolutions 6 tips on staying hydrated Categories Life CoachingMental HealthNeurodivergenceOffice ManagementRun CoachingSports MassageVirtual Assistance Business Support Office Management CRM/Database Management Email Inbox Management Bookkeeping Event Support Website Management Email Automations Project Coordination Access Support Life Coaching General Life Coaching Transitional Life Coaching Exercise & Fitness Coaching Diet & Nutrition Coaching Run Coaching Business Coaching EV Sports Sports Massage Beginner Running Course Return to Running Course Fundamentals of Running Course Run Coaching Qualifications & CPD Business Management Diploma Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Financial Crime Mentoring & Coaching Skills Psychology of Behaviour Change Life Coaching & Mindfulness Diploma Advanced Personal Training Diploma England Athletics Running Coach Gym Instruction Nutrition & Weight Management Nutrition for Sport & Exercise Circuit Training Pilates Fundamentals Pre and Post Natal Nutrition Pre and Post Natal Massage Sports & Remedial Massage Diploma HOW TO SET SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS We all know that Christmas is less than 4 months away. Some people may have already had at least one conversation this year about where you are going to spend Christmas Day and Boxing Day. You may even have started planning what presents to get for people. But have you thought about how to set a successful New Year Resolution yet? In exactly 4 months today, we will all be waking up to a brand new year and about half of us will be setting a New Year’s Resolution – the most common are health and fitness related like losing weight, joining a gym and stopping smoking, but whatever it is, less than 10% of us actually keep them. There are many reasons that people aren’t able to follow through with their resolutions, including poor planning, unrealistic goals, no motivation and lack of money. But in my experience, the most common reason is because we have made the wrong resolution at the wrong time for us to fully commit to it. WHY SET A RESOLUTION Personally, I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions. I have become so in tune with my needs over the last few years, that if I feel something needs to change, then I do it whenever that need arises. In some ways I’m in awe of people who can choose a resolution at new year and stick to it as it’s not something I’ve ever been able to do! But, in all honesty, it doesn’t matter when you want to make changes in your life. The important bit is that they are the right changes for you, for the right reasons and that you have the support you need to make these changes realistic and sustainable. It, therefore, doesn’t need to be a new year resolution, but it does need to be a goal that is meaningful to you in a way that not achieving it makes you feel worse than carrying on as you are. WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO SET RESOLUTIONS If you are someone who enjoys the challenge of a new year’s resolution, but haven’t been able to fully commit to and achieve one in the past, it may be because you haven’t spent enough time considering the changes you would like to make. So, instead of waiting until the 1st of January – why not start thinking about it now? What would you like to change about your life? What would you be really proud of having achieved this time next year? For example, if your goal is to be able to walk/run 5km then getting outside while the evenings and weekends are warmer and lighter will help you cope with the colder, darker months because your body is already used to the exercise. Then, by the time you come to setting a new year’s resolution, you are already half way there, or may even be in a position to be a bit more adventurous! You will be more aware of how your body and mind responds to new challenges so you will be in a much better position to choose a realistic resolution that you can sensibly work towards. HOW TO SET SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS MAKE THE RIGHT CHANGES FOR THE RIGHT REASONS Ask yourself why you want to make the change you want to set yourself. Thinking you should and someone else telling you to make certain changes all need to be addressed/processed, but are they the right reasons for you want to make this change? For example, comparing yourself to other people which makes you think you should change in some way. Who has told you to make this change – friends/family/society, or a healthcare professional? Do you agree with them? Even if you do agree with them, is this change something you are ready to embark on right now? If not, then it may not be the right time to set yourself this challenge. CHOOSE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL TO YOU Choose something meaningful and that holds some form of emotional attachment when you think either about what you don’t like now, or how you’ll feel when you achieve your goal. I’m not a huge fan of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-based) goals because I don’t think they take into account our feelings. I also don’t think that it’s feasible for everyone to know how long it will take to achieve a certain goal to be able to put a timeframe on it. Feeling a certain way about a goal, in my opinion, is a very valid way (if not more so) of knowing you have achieved what you set out to do. By all means, add something more tangible to the ‘specific’ and ‘smart’