How to Make (and Keep) Your New Year's Resolutions

New Year is coming up, and that is when a lot of people create goals to fulfill in the next year. However, recent studies show that while 45% of Americans make New Year’s Resolutions, only 8% of those people meet their goals. How do you get into the Top 8-Percent? Here are the 5 biggest tips for making realistic resolutions!

Identify realistic changes you want to make

Transform them into SMART Goals

Once you identified those realistic changes you want to implement into your life, transform them into SMART goals, just like we do at Shop LC.

S – Specific. Make sure the goal is specific to the changes don’t feel as big. For example, it is one thing to say, “save more money.” It is another thing to say, “I will put 10% of my paycheck into my savings account every month.” M – Measurable. Make sure the changes you are making are quantifiable so you can calculate your success. For example, instead of saying, “spend more time with family.” Say, “I will go see them once every month.” A – Achievable. This goes back to whether or not the goal is realistic. For example, don’t say, “I will lose half of my body weight in a month.” It is unrealistic to expect changes to occur overnight! Instead, make sure you create steps for you to get to wherever you want. R – Relevant. Do you care about the goal? For example, if you are not the most tech-savvy person, don’t set the goal of building a computer from scratch. Make sure the goal is relevant to your life! T – Time-Bound. Without a deadline, there is no sense of urgency. Make sure your goal has an element of time, so you feel the need to achieve your goal.

Find a community

Whether it is joining a Facebook group or even telling a few people of what your goal is, finding a community is important to help you achieve your goals. This creates not only a support group to push you forward, but also creates accountability. One thing I will personally implement into my life is going on a hike at least once a week. Not only will it “trick” me into exercising, but it also allows me to unplug from the digital world and enjoy the winter breeze.

Reward, do not punish

Whenever you miss your goal, it is super easy to beat yourself up. This has been proven to be the wrong way to go because you will fall back to old habits out of guilt. Instead, look back on all the days you did move towards your goal and celebrate your successes so far. That way, it will continue to motivate you to stay on track.

Reflect and react

What if you find out later on that your goals were set too high? Don’t worry, experts recommend that you reflect on your goals every so often and adjust accordingly. That way, you set yourself up for success!

What are your New Year’s Resolutions? Let us know in the comments down below!