We are officially beginning the third month of the new year. How are you doing with your new year’s resolutions? This is typically the time of the year when people begin to slack on their resolutions – if they’ve not already given up on them entirely. If you’re not where you hoped you would be in terms of the progress you’ve made, don’t worry. There is still plenty of time to get back on track.
It is simply a matter of making yourself think back and remember why you made this resolution in the first place. You can then consider what you’ve been doing to make this resolution happen and what’s been working and what hasn’t been. At that point, you are able to reconsider what steps you’ve been taking and determine what needs to be changed in order to make sure that you’re as successful as possible moving forward.
Taking a Look Back at Your New Year’s Resolutions
Back in the beginning of January, you might have made a list on your phone or in your journal of resolutions you had for yourself this year. Or maybe you had just one or two things that you told yourself you were going to try to focus on doing this year. Now is the time to take a look back and think about why you chose to make those resolutions in the first place.
Maybe a resolution was to start eating healthier and going to the gym more so that you can be the healthiest version of yourself possible. Or maybe a resolution was to improve your mental health by letting go of negative relationships and focusing on spending more time with people who support you and lift you up. Perhaps your resolution was to get help for a substance use problem.
No matter what your resolution is, there is still time to make it a priority in the new year. People like to use the beginning of the year as an excuse to make resolutions, but in reality, there is never a wrong time to make goals for yourself and work on bettering yourself. You can do it at any point in the year.
Just make sure that you know why you’re setting a certain resolution. Don’t do it just to do it. If you don’t have a good reason for why you’re making a certain resolution, you’re probably going to lack motivation. It can help to write down three reasons why you chose a particular resolution. Then, whenever you feel your motivation lagging, you can remind yourself why you’re doing this.
Consider What’s Working and What’s Not
Sometimes resolutions need to be re-evaluated to be made more realistic or to fit better with one’s life. For example, maybe your goal is to lose weight. Maybe your plan to do this was to work out a set number of days a week and start cooking nutritious meals from home instead of eating out as much. This is a great resolution, but if you’re struggling to keep up with it, there may be things you need to change. For example, maybe you find yourself dreading going to the gym each day and are miserable during your workouts.
What can you do to change your plan that will still accomplish your overall goal? Maybe you need to reconsider how you’re working out. If it’s typically just you alone in the gym, consider inviting a friend and working out together. Or maybe you would enjoy taking a cycling or pilates class. If these aren’t your things, you could always work out from the comfort of your own home. There are many videos online that you can follow that will walk you through workouts for free.
The key is finding out what works for you. When you enjoy the work you’re putting in, you’ll be more motivated and more likely to succeed.
Start Tracking Your Progress
One of the most common reasons that people give up their resolutions just months into the year is because they lack motivation. Maybe their goal is harder to accomplish than they expected it would be. Or maybe they are just not seeing the results as quickly as they hoped to and are now second-guessing if they really want to continue.
A great way to combat this issue is by tracking your progress. This is why goals should always be measurable in some way. This is necessary in order to see how far you’ve come and determine what is working and what isn’t. If you haven’t done so already, start tracking your progress to see how you’re coming with your resolution. If your goal is weight loss, consider weighing yourself one day a week. You can track your progress through a weight loss app, a chart, or simply by logging it into a journal. Seeing your progress can increase your motivation.
It’s never too late to pick your resolutions back up and make them happen this year. All you have to do is remind yourself why you made them to begin with. If you’re looking for a resolution that will totally transform your life in an incredible way, consider getting sober this year. If you don’t know where to start, don’t worry. There are plenty of resources available that can help. Our team at The Ho Tai Way would be happy to guide you through the treatment process as you begin your recovery journey. Don’t wait; call us at (714) 581-3974 today, and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
