It’s that time of year again, where we optimistically lie and tell ourselves we’ll be a better a person over the next 12 months. We’ll give up the booze, hit the gym and call grandma a little more; that’s the New Year’s resolution tradition. But rather than sticking to same tired tricks we play out every year, maybe you should focus on something that has a little more meaning and a whole lot more likelihood of actually happening.
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How to Stick to Your New Year’s Resolutions
The biggest mistake we tend to make when it comes to New Year’s resolutions is setting completely unrealistic expectations. If you fail to properly plan, you’re in a bad spot from day one, making the object of your intrinsic development all the more difficult. Here are some tips for sticking to your 2021 New Year’s resolutions.
- Start small – Rather than focusing on a complete identity overhaul, it’s worth cutting your 2021 New Year’s resolutions into bite-sized pieces. If your goals are small, you are far more likely to achieve them.
- Be specific – Similarly, setting a specific target gives you less room to wiggle out of it. Rather than setting a goal like, exercise more, set a manageable and realistic target, such as visit the gym three times per week. This way, you are able to acutely manage your expectations and measure your propensity for success over a sustained period.
- Go easy on yourself – You’ll never achieve perfection, so don’t beat yourself up when you fall off the wagon. The best New Year’s resolutions are ones that end in long-term behavioural change. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, so take your time and don’t be too hard on yourself.
- Ask for support – Getting help from those around you isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a way to build out your network of supporters. If you feel overwhelmed by your goals, consider seeking a professional’s advice. Psychologists can offer strategies as to how to adjust your goals and help you change unhealthy behaviours.
Best New Year’s Resolutions
So, what are your 2021 New Year’s resolutions? Before you jump on the same tired options, we’ve put together a list of badass ideas to kick-start a solid 12 months. Remember, these are just starting points, so build on them with realistic goals, specific to you.
- Go bungee jumping
- Learn to fly a plane
- Brew your own beer
- See more live music
- Go behind the wheel of a track-ready race car
- Start writing a novel
- Take up photography
- Get in shape
- Travel to a remote, rural destination in your state
- Eat healthier
- Stop procrastinating
- Learn a new language
- Support your friends’ businesses
- Ask for a pay-rise
- Make new friends
- Get more sleep
- Be more mindful
- Call your parents
- Join a new social sporting club
- Get a better job
- Ask the biggest dude at the gym for lifting advice
- Create a new budget
- Satisfy your wanderlust
- Quit smoking
- Read more
- Improve your sex life
- Buy clothes that actually fit
- Drink less alcohol
- Set a savings goal and stick to it
- Drink more water
- Get out of debt
- Volunteer or give to charity
- Focus on living more sustainably and eco-conscious
- Learn an instrument
- Start freelancing or take time to work on a new business idea
- Spend more time with your significant other
- Adopt a rescue animal
- Work on your organisation skills
- Remember important sates
- Learn to cook basic meals
- Actually visit the doctor
- Spend less time on social media
- Be comfortable being by yourself
- Find a new side hustle
- Learn how to defend yourself
- Play sport
- Get back to nature
- Learn patience in all circumstances
- Start journaling on a daily basis
- Start a meditation practice
- Learn something new every day
- Get yourself seen
- Try a new workout practice
- Write a business plan
- Commit one hour of each day to your dreams
- Work on your emotional intelligence
- Be kinder to yourself
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General FAQs
Each year, thousands of people across the world sign up for New Year’s Resolutions. The biggest and most population choices each year include losing weight, quitting smoking and practising mindfulness. It’s important you set achievable goals for the new year, as setting the bar too high may lead to an early exit.
According to research from ComRes, on average, 80% of New Year's resolutions fail by the second week of February. Good habits, particularly those that are drastically different from your average lifestyle, are hard to get started. Studies suggest that on average, it takes approximately 66 days for a habit to become automatic.
If you want to stick to your New Year’s resolutions, make them simple. Rather than aiming for a complete lifestyle overhaul, focus on small wins that are realistic and can be complemented with support.
