Get Your Resolutions Back On Track

Remember those resolutions you made at the beginning of the year? How are those going? 

If your resolutions are still holding strong, that’s amazing! Keep it up! If you’ve started to let your resolutions slip, you’re not alone. Nearly 80% of Americans abandon their New Year’s resolutions within a month. But don’t get discouraged. Just because you have strayed from your original goals doesn’t mean you need to abandon them entirely. No matter how far off the path you’ve gotten, you always have the opportunity to get yourself back on track. 

The thought of getting back on track can seem daunting, especially if you don’t know where to start. We get it. That’s why we put together a few tips to help you get those resolutions back on track (and keep them there). 

1. Give Yourself Grace. When you’ve realized that you’ve let your resolutions slip, the first thing to do is give yourself grace. We are all human. We all make mistakes, lose motivation, and fall back on old habits. And that’s okay! There’s no need to beat yourself up over it or dwell on it for weeks on end. Instead, forgive yourself and make a plan to help you get back on track, which will be a lot easier when you aren’t carrying around unnecessary shame or guilt.
2. Remember Your Why. You set that goal for a reason, right? The reason why we choose to do something is a powerful tool. It helps you form a personal connection to your goals, which can increase your motivation to stick to them. Take some time each day to think about your “why” to keep it at the top of your mind. You can even write it down and put it somewhere like the fridge or the bathroom mirror where you’ll see it every day.
3. Go From Big to Small. More often than not, we set resolutions for ourselves based on the bigger picture. Where do you want to be by the end of the year? What do you want to accomplish in the next twelve months? While it’s important to have that bigger picture in mind, a goal that big can make it hard to know what steps you need to take today to get there. To overcome this, turn that one big goal into a series of smaller goals with their own timelines. As you begin to crush these smaller goals, you’ll quickly feel like your end goal is much more achievable.
4. Celebrate Your Wins. Big or small, rewards are a great tool to keep yourself motivated. This is because your brain naturally likes to feel good, and rewards help it do just that! When you reward yourself for your successes, your brain is more inclined to adopt that new habit and put it on autopilot. Be mindful about your rewards, though. Don’t choose things that will contradict your goals, like eating an extra piece of cake or grabbing fast food for dinner. Instead, treat yourself to an evening at the movies, a day at the spa, or an item at that local shop that you’ve had your eye on for a while.
5. Don’t Procrastinate. When we fall off track, it’s easy to tell ourselves that we will start again tomorrow. But before you know it, tomorrow can easily turn into next week, next month, and then next year, all without you making any progress. The longer you put off getting back on track, the harder it is going to be. So don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today. If you need to get back to a regular workout routine, squeeze in some exercise before bed. If you want to start eating healthier, start with your next meal. Whatever it is, find a way to take a step in the right direction today. Trust us, you’ll thank yourself for not putting it off any longer.
6. Find Accountability Partners. You’ve heard us say it time and time again because it is effective. Building relationships with others who are working toward similar goals is a game-changer when it comes to your own success. Find a few other people who are dedicated to reaching their goals, and help hold each other accountable. Whether this involves teaming up with a few friends or joining an online community like our 30-Day Gut Reboot group, having someone who will check in with you on a regular basis and provide you with a little extra push when needed is a game-changer. 

The bottom line is that, no matter how much you’ve let your resolutions fall to the wayside this year, it’s never too late to get yourself back on track and have your most successful year yet! So go ahead, give yourself grace and start taking steps to get yourself back on track, it’s all part of living the #NewEarthLife.