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Six Strategies To Keep Your New Year’s Resolution

Success Strategies New Year's ResolutionsAs with everything else, when it comes to New Year’s Resolutions, the key to your success is how you prepare and the organization that takes place before you start. Even though the majority of New Year’s resolutions don’t make it past mid-January, you can accomplish whatever changes you resolve to make in 2016, and if you follow our guide to six strategies to keep your new year’s resolution, you will greatly increase your chances for success.

Six Strategies To Keep Your New Year’s Resolution

#1 Create a Solid Plan

You already know that it isn’t enough to mull over the thought, “I’m going to lose weight this year.” You need a concrete strategy to make that happen. By declaring your intentions in detail and with specific terms, you are making a clear commitment to yourself, which makes it much harder to ignore. Just be sure your plan is realistic and actionable. Don’t try to take on too much, but rather focus on one important goal.

#2 Break it Down

Once you’ve created a solid plan, break it down into its simplest components to make sure it’s both measurable and time-sensitive. You need to be able to assess your progress in order to achieve your goal, so rather than declaring your intention to “lose weight,” determine what you can realistically accomplish in a set timeframe. For instance, resolve to lose one pound each week for ten weeks, and then lay out the plan to make it happen. This will allow you to monitor your results and feel your progress from the very beginning.

#3 Take Action Every Day

Since sticking to your resolutions comes down to doing something different, the most important element to your success is going to be DOING it! It’s not going to feel great at first because it’s new and uncomfortable behavior, but it’s going to be worth it. Whatever you have to do to carve out the time you need, make sure you schedule time daily to take steps toward your resolution. Being consistent will create momentum while your new behavior takes root and becomes habit.

#4 Take it Public

Whatever you intend to do, change, or accomplish, share the news with everyone you know. Tell your friends, call your mother, post it to Facebook. Not only will this help enlist your built-in support network, it will also make you accountable publicly if you falter. A public commitment is easier to stick to because the consequences of giving up will also be public.

#5 Install Penalties

If the idea of achieving your goal isn’t a sufficient incentive for you to stick to it, what about the idea of paying for it if you don’t succeed? If you give up and you don’t lose the weight, you’ll pay for it with your health… but what if it costs you some hard-earned cash, too? The guys behind the website stickK.com understand human behavior, and they’ve created a site where not keeping your resolution will cost you. You can decide how much to wager (with yourself), and build up the extra motivation you need to get it done. Or if putting cash on the line is too stressful for you, ask a friend to help exact an agreed upon “fee” should you skip an appointment with your resolution.

#6 Link Your Resolution to an Existing Habit

If your New Year’s resolution amounts to creating a new habit, try attaching it to something you already do regularly. If you want to drink more water, then make a list of times throughout the day when you can drink a glass, like right after you brush your teeth. The simpler it is for you to set your new task on autopilot, the faster it will take root and become a habit.

Take these steps to properly plan your resolution and you’ll be well on your way to beating the odds and making the changes you want to see in the New Year. And if you miss a day while you’re starting out, don’t get discouraged. Consistency is crucial to success, and the first days will have the biggest impact on your commitment, but nobody is perfect. For a good head start, why wait until New Year’s Day? Start now!

What are your New Year’s Resolutions this year? Tell us what you’re planning to change in 2016… and remember, if you share them publicly it’s that much harder to quit!

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Written by

Certified Professional Organizer®, Scott Roewer is founder of The Organizing Agency, a professional organization and productivity company devoted to teaching residential and business clients how to increase productivity, save money, and how to live a more organized and abundant life.

An award winning company, in 2013, The Organizing Agency was once again awarded the Angie’s List Super Service award, in 2012 the National Association of Professional Organizers recognized Scott with its top honor, the Founders’ Award, and later the same year, the U.S. Air Force commended his volunteerism, naming him Joint Base Andrews “Hometown Hero.” For more information on Scott’s team and how they can help you, contact the office online or call us directly at 202-249-8330.

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