When the new year starts, we want to start it well, so that we can face a new year in which we will no longer make mistakes. New Year’s resolutions can certainly be useful to get rid of bad habits, but it is still very difficult to stick to these good intentions. Why is that and how can you stick to it?
Why good intentions?
Good intentions are especially useful for starting the new year in a good way. You try to reduce or even stop your bad qualities. It can be very good to be consciously aware of your bad qualities and actively try to do something about them. This way you see what is not going well in your life and what could possibly be done differently.
Why do good intentions always fail?
Unfortunately, in practice it turns out to be a lot more difficult to keep good intentions. Quitting smoking completely is very disappointing and the croquette sandwich is in the canteen at work looking at you. And if your boss asks if you want to work overtime, you are inclined to answer yes, even though you had decided not to do that anymore. If you go wrong with your good intention, you soon have the idea: Oh well, it’s already failed anyway, so I might as well give up completely and keep it up. And yet you had already managed to stick to it for a few days or weeks.
Too strict during New Year’s resolutions
We tend to be far too hard on ourselves when we come up with a good resolution. As soon as it fails, we see it as failure. However, it is better to focus on the things that went well. See it as a learning moment when you do make a mistake. Did you reach for a cigarette even though you really wanted to quit? Then stick with that one cigarette and then continue with your attempt to quit smoking. The same applies to someone who decides to live a healthier life in the new year. If you don’t succeed every day, don’t give up, but be happy with all the days when things did go well. Focus on the things that are going well, instead of giving up when things are not going well.
Make a plan for your New Year’s resolutions
If you want to stick to your resolutions, it can also help to come up with a plan. With a good and clear plan it can be easier to stick to the goal. Quitting a bad trait is more difficult than you initially expect. You are used to your trait. It is better, for example, to ensure that you get rid of the bad trait completely by means of a plan halfway through the year or at the end of the year. That often works better and more effectively than deciding to stop doing something without really thinking about it.
For example, do you want to quit smoking? Then you can, for example, make a plan whereby you smoke less every week or month than before. For example, in January you stop smoking cigarettes immediately after dinner. In February you smoke cigarettes while having coffee and in March you also stop smoking while at work. Do it in such a way that you think you can keep it up. It can also help to write down in advance exactly what you want to do and how you want to do it.
Do you want to eat healthier? Then you can start by eating something unhealthy only once a week in January, for example . The further you get into the year, the more you reduce this. Here too, you have to do it in such a way that you can keep it up.
Do you want to complete your studies successfully? Then you make a special learning and homework plan. Plan when you will learn something and how long it will take you. By making a plan you don’t postpone everything until the last days and you can stick with it better.
You can also draw up a plan for other good intentions to better stick to them. Write it down in such a way that you know you can stick to it, but still include some challenge.
Ask for help with your New Year’s resolutions
Your environment can be a good incentive to help you achieve your good intentions. They can support you and reprimand you when things don’t go well. Ask clearly if they can and want to help you with this. It is better to try to avoid the people in your environment who have a bad influence on you, for example because they have the same bad qualities and therefore it is more difficult for you to persevere.
Maybe there are people around you who want the same thing as you. Then fight together, so that you have support. For example, going to the gym as a couple is easier than going alone. Can’t find anyone you can arrange something with? Then there are also various options available on the internet. There are sites that focus on good intentions and forums where you can go if you want to achieve something. By continually posting messages about how you are doing, you can become motivated to actually keep going.
Reward yourself
Are your good intentions going well? Then you can reward yourself. For example, buy something nice for yourself, or go out for a day. Make a schedule for yourself. Did you stick to your New Year’s resolutions for a week? Then do something nice for yourself. Postpone fun things you want to do until you have achieved your goal. For example, if you see a nice CD in the store, you should only buy it for yourself if you have stuck to your New Year’s resolutions. Make a schedule in advance so that you have a clear overview of the moments when you can reward yourself.