How to stick to your New Year’s resolutions

“New Year, New Me”

Every January our heads are full of a thousand different ideas for self improvement. We make promises to ourselves that this will be the year we make good on all of our New Year’s resolutions. Realistically however, when the cold weather and shorter days are still lingering without the incentive of Christmas to get us through, it’s easy for motivation to drop and it becomes almost impossible to carry out the tasks we have set for ourselves. Therefore, we have provided some handy tips to give you a new outlook on how you think about your resolutions. Beginning with a more practical and easygoing approach to the year may just be what you need to finally stick with it. Happy New Year all!

Challenge yourself

We often see a New Year’s resolution as a time to give something up, for example chocolate or alcohol. Whilst these are good ideas, instead of giving something up, why not take on something new? Enter yourself in to a 5K, start riding your bike to work rather that driving, or learn a new language. You’ll most likely find that you have less time to concentrate on your old bad habits and you’ll feel great for having succeeded with something positive or gained a new skill!

Enlist the help of a friend

Whatever you set out to do, find a friend or family member that would like to do it too. If it’s jogging for example, jog together. Are you trying to eat healthier? Eat lunch together or share your ideas and recipes for healthier food options. Make sure you are sharing your progress with one another; a little healthy competition can actually be a great way to spur each other on. Knowing you will have to let someone else in on how you’re improving will push you to do better and you’ll have a much better chance of succeeding!

Every penny counts

Trying to give up expensive coffee? Buying lunch out every day? Smoking? Well, every time you think of buying the forbidden item and manage not to, pocket the money. Save it somewhere separate from your bank account and use that money to buy something you wouldn’t normally be able to afford. If however, you decide not to treat yourself, seeing all of the money that you have saved physically in front of you will still be enough to spur you on!

Sophie Cook