How To Make Your Resolutions Stick

Here are 3 questions to ask yourself to help you turn your New Years resolutions into long term habits that become part of who you are.

What Do You Want?

The first step to achieve anything is to first define what it is that you want. If you want to lose weight how much weight do you want to lose and by when? If you want to improve your running how much better (faster / longer) do you want to run and by when? The more specific and measurable you can make what you want the better. If you want help to set great goals I wrote a blog that could help you: CLICK HERE

Why Do You Want It?

Once you have defined what you want ask yourself why you want it. Or more to the point how will achieving what you want make your life better. Mentally take yourself to a reality where you have achieved what you want. How does that make you feel? What do you think about yourself / your life? What do you believe about yourself / you life? If these feelings will fundamentally make you happier and/or your life better in some way the more likely you are to find the motivation to start and the discipline to keep going.

Who Do You Need To Become?

New habits can be formed and changes in behaviours can be made but in order to truly make your New Years resolutions stick requires a change in identity. You have to adopt the behaviours of the person you aspire to be. This does not just require a physical habit change but also a mental one. For example, if you want to get better at running become a runner. If you want to lose weight become the person that is the weight you aspire to be. If you want to enjoy healthy food become the person that loves healthy food. The more you can embody the behaviours and thoughts of the person you want to become the more likely you are to become that person.

One of the most powerful ways to change habits, embody behaviours and change your identity is to join a tribe where the behaviours you desire are the norm. If you want to become a runner join a running club. If you want to become a gym goer join a community focused gym. And if you can afford to do so hire a coach to hold you accountable to those new behaviours.

There is a process to changing habits but you are in full control of the person you want to become. Spend time working through these questions and you never know… By this time next year the person you want to become right now will be who you are.

Matt