Five Tips to Stick to Your New Year's Resolutions

The New Year drives many people to set self-improvement goals, the most popular of which include losing weight, drinking less, managing debt and eating better. Each January, millions of Americans put on their gym attire, strap on running shoes and head to the gym, having resolved to get in shape for summer. Others break out their monthly bills, calculators and budgeting software to find areas where they can squirrel away money for a long-awaited vacation. But, by the time February rolls around, it’s easier to find space in the exercise classes that had once been so packed. And maybe eating out twice (okay, three times) a week isn’t such a bad thing.

Making resolutions is simple; sticking to them is the hard part.

Why are New Year’s resolutions so difficult to keep? The University of Scranton found that nearly half of Americans usually make resolutions, but only eight percent of those people successfully achieve them. Oftentimes, the goals are too broad, unrealistic or unachievable. Other reasons for abandonment include getting discouraged by setbacks and not being held accountable.

Don’t despair, however, because we’ve got five tips to help you stick to your resolutions and even plan ahead for next year.

1. Set measurable goals. Saying “I’d like to lose weight” is too vague a statement. Instead, determine how much weight you’d like to lose and set a reasonable timeline. The same mentality is true for paying down debt or saving money for something specific. Knowing your exact goals sets you up for success.

2. Create a plan of action. If your goal is to save money, you’ll want to create a budget and stick to it. Track your income versus expenditures and determine the areas where you can save some money. For example, going out to lunch instead of packing one is more expensive and adds up over time, so consider limiting the number of days you go out to eat each week.

Want to lose weight? Don’t just join a gym, but commit to taking specific classes and visiting on certain days of the week. Set a goal for the amount of weight you’d like to lose each week and adjust your meal plan to have a set number of calories that’s conducive to burning more than you’re eating.

3. Enlist a buddy. Some things are better done with friends. If you commit to exercising with a friend, you can hold each other accountable for sticking to your goals. Saving money doesn’t necessarily seem like a group activity, but think about enlisting the services of a financial advisor to help get you on the right track.

An unconventional place to look to save money is your auto insurance. You should ask yourself, are you receiving all of the discounts for which you’re eligible? Do you have the right amount of coverage for your car? Companies like Mercury Insurance have local, dedicated agents who could help you uncover hundreds of dollars in savings. Consider them your money-saving buddy.

4. Track your progress. We’re often better at doing this in our professional lives, but our personal goals shouldn’t be neglected. Pick a weekly time to see how you’re doing (and remember to reach out to your buddy if you need extra motivation). Weight loss apps like My Fitness Pal and budgeting tools like Mint.com are easily accessible from your smartphone for added convenience and tips.

5. Don’t give up. Just because you have a bad day, week or month, that’s no reason to throw in the towel. Acknowledge the setback, think about why it happened and learn from it so you get back on track. And finally, don’t give up. The important thing is to keep at it until you’ve accomplished what you set out to do.

Happy New Year!

Bob Chandler
North Atlanta