How to Not Bail on Your New Year's Resolutions: 5 Strategies to Stay Committed All Year Long

So many of us enter the new year with a positive attitude, with a set of goals we want to accomplish and the motivation to help us get a jump start towards achieving those goals. Then mid-January rolls along and the magic of the new year has faded. Either the new semester has begun or there aren't any federal holidays to give you that much needed three day weekend. We get stuck, we get bored, we give up.

It doesn't have to be this way though! Just because you spend a weekend (or week) completely ignoring all those things you promised yourself you would get done doesn't mean you should trash the idea for good. Instead, spend a little time prepping yourself so that once you do take the first step, you're ready to face any obstacles on your way to getting shit done.

Read on to learn what five things you can to do help yourself stay committed to your new year's resolutions and goals, then scroll down to the bottom to find the one thing I'm giving you to keep you accountable and inspired year round.

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Focus on less

Raise your hand if you're guilty of making a goal's list that is way too long to handle. *Raises but hands up HIGH* The more you put on your plate the less time you'll have to focus on each individual goal, so set some time aside to revise your goals for the new year. Try to choose those that matter most to you as well as goals that don't conflict.

For example, making the goals of exercising five times a week and spending more time with friends may not be congruent. You want your goals to fit together, meaning one doesn't get in the way of the other. If you're stuck on how to do this, try molding your goal to include the other, such as finding a friend to be your fitness ally throughout the year.


Make goals you can measure

If you can't measure your goal how will you know if you're making progress? Instead of making a goal like "read more," commit to something tangible such as, "read one book a month." By doing this you can see if you're meeting your goal on a regular basis, as well as give you the motivation to work harder or take a step back.

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Actively track your progress

By making goals you can measure, you're helping yourself track your progress along the way. You can do this by keeping a log of how much weight you've lost, books you're read, or places you've visited. Keeping track of what you've accomplished so far will give you the motivation you need for weeks where you feel like you're nowhere close to where you want to be. In my case, I use my blog analytics to see how much I've managed to accomplish, so it's all about finding the thing that's going to keep you positive on those days that you rather just bail.

Celebrate the baby steps

Most people share their goals with friends and family right as they make them, but for some reason no one talks about the milestones and hardships that come with working towards your goals. Don't be afraid to post about where you've gotten so far, how you're lacking motivation, or anything in between. This is an easy way to track your progress while also receiving feedback from those around you.

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Out of sight, out of mind

I'm a firm believer in putting out into the universe what you want to receive, especially when trying to achieve something that doesn't happen overnight. My favorite way to do this is through Pinterest, where I have an entire board dedicated to positive quotes to keep me focused. Print out your goals and place them someone you'll see everyday, change your wallpaper to something that will put you in a good mood, and set reminders on your phone for goals you're sure to forget about.


How are you doing with your new year's goals? Share your progress in the comments below!


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