Top 10 to Make Your New Year’s Resolution a Success

Many of us will make a healthy New Year’s resolution – maybe to lose weight, quit smoking, or drink less – but what’s the best way to stick to it?

Psychologists have found we’re more likely to succeed if we break our resolution into smaller specific, measurable, and time-based goals.

Tips to Conquering New Year’s resolution

1. Make only one resolution. Your chances of success are greater when you channel energy into changing just one aspect of your behavior.
2. Don’t wait until New Year’s Eve to choose your resolution. Take some time out a few days before and consider what you want to achieve.
3. Avoid previous resolutions. Deciding to revisit a past resolution sets you up for frustration and disappointment.
4. Don’t run with the crowd and go with the usual resolutions. Instead, think about what you want out of life.
5. Break your goal into a series of steps, and focus on creating sub-goals that are concrete, measurable, and time-based.
6. Share your goals with friends and family. You’re more likely to get support and want to avoid failure.
7. Make a checklist to stay motivated in achieving your resolution.
8. Give yourself a small reward whenever you achieve a sub-goal, which will help to motivate you and give you a sense of progress.
9. Make your plans and progress concrete by keeping a handwritten journal, completing a computer spreadsheet, or covering a noticeboard with graphs or pictures.
10. Expect to revert to your old habits from time to time. Treat any failure as a temporary setback rather than a reason to give up altogether.

Popular New Year Resolutions

Below are some of the most common New Year health resolutions, with links to help you get started and achieve your goal.

Lose weight
Get practical tips to lose excess weight, including getting started, healthy food swaps, and a weight loss plan.

Quit smoking
We’ve got all you need to help you achieve your goal of stopping smoking, including the free NHS Smokefree app.

Get active
Boost your fitness with fun and practical ideas to help you get into shape.

Drink less alcohol
Calculate your units, get tips on cutting down, track your drinking, and find out where to get help and support.

Eat more fruit and vegetables
Whether cooking for a family or eating on the go, our tips and recipes can help you get your 5 A DAY.

You ought to write down your goals. It serves as a guidepost and gives strength for purposeful action. -Lailah Gifty Akita

Source: https://www.nhs.uk/