How to make a New Year’s Resolution and stick to it

Here are 7 helpful tips for making a New Year’s resolution you can stick to.

1. Start small. If you set a small goal and achieve it, you are more likely to keep going and work toward the next goal. For example, commit to walking 5000 steps a day and work your way up to 10,000.
2. Just pick one thing. Don’t try to change your whole life at once.
3. Record your achievements in a notebook, diary or spreadsheet. When you can see how well you are progressing, you are more likely to stick with it.
4. Be specific and make one small change at a time. You could commit to making your lunch once a week for work rather than buying takeaway. If you save $10 a week, you’ll have an extra $500 by the end of the year.
5. Don’t pick something that is likely to fail – like running a marathon if you currently don’t do any regular exercise at all!
6. Plan ahead. Make sure you have everything in place to make success more likely. If you want to eat more healthily, make sure your fridge isn’t full of cake and soft drink!
7. Pick a start day – it doesn’t have to be January 1st.

Remember to be kind to yourself! If you miss a walk or eat that slice of cake, don’t give up completely. View it as a minor blip and start again the day after.

9 achievable New Year’s resolutions:

1. Eat one meat-free meal a week
2. Read one book a month
3. Turn your phone off after 7pm two nights a week
4. Volunteer once a month at your local charity shop or animal shelter
5. Take the stairs rather than a lift or escalator
6. Cut out one cup of coffee a day
7. Cut out refined sugar from your diet
8. Don’t buy anything new for a month
9. Drink at least a litre of water a day

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