How to Make New Year’s Resolutions That Might Actually Last Beyond January

It’s almost that time of the year – after all the festivities have finished, the last of the turkey has been curried or put into sandwiches and the decorations are starting to outstay their welcome, it’s time to look ahead.

For many of us that means making some New Year’s Resolutions – and, in a good number of instances, these are resolutions that will have been broken long before the year is out.

In some ways, this is worse than not making any resolutions at all. That’s because a failed resolution can often lead to feelings of despondency and even low self-esteem.

But it doesn’t have to be this way as there are certain steps that anyone can take to increase the likelihood that you’ll stick with it, whether it’s losing weight, being more adventurous, or simply getting your finances in order. So here are three tips to help you on your way.

Have a set goal

Often, people go about setting their resolutions with very vague objectives. But, like most things in life, if you’re not exactly clear about what you want to achieve, it’s harder to achieve it. Yes, you can be doing all the things that you intended to do. But without that important yardstick to aim for, you’ll never really know how far you’ve come.

That said, it does have to be attainable. Don’t go aiming to complete a 26-mile marathon in a sub-three hour time, but do aim to be able to put in a good performance at an event like the Cardiff half marathon. You’ll have until the end of October till the race begins, which gives you plenty of time to prepare.

Use the help and support that’s available

Another way that many people go wrong is by trying to go it alone when learning new habits or making big lifestyle changes. But it’s going to be so much easier if you enlist all the help that you can. So, say a 5kg weight loss is your goal. This is going to be a more realistic objective if you involve your family who can then also try to support you by eating less and in a more healthy way too. This way, your environment reflects the changes you’re making individually.

Many people will also undoubtedly be committing to spending less in 2023, often out of necessity not just desire. Banks and other financial institutions are all too aware of how budgets are under pressure at the moment. Financial institutions will have good advice to offer about dealing with the rising cost of living, which will undoubtedly help you to tackle your goals.

Small steps lead to big achievements

Finally, it’s worth remembering that, as the cliché goes, a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. So take things steadily and don’t run before you can walk.

That way, this time next year, you could be patting yourself on the back for your achievements – as well as planning what you’re also going to smash in 2024.