Have you ever scribbled down a New Year’s resolution and then forgotten about it? You’re not alone! But another year means another chance. As you think of goals for the coming year, here are ideas to help you start small and build on your achievements step by step.

Make Your Resolutions

The key to resolutions is to make them realistic and attainable.

Begin by assessing your lifestyle. Focus on areas you’d really like to change. For example, if you want to improve what you eat, keep a food diary for a week.

Focus on changes you can actually make. Don’t resolve to exercise seven days a week, for example. Go for three or four times a week. That way, it’s more doable and less stressful.

Break major resolutions into small, specific steps. For instance, if you want to improve your eating habits (and your family’s), begin by:

• Adding an extra serving of fruits or vegetables to every meal.
• Eating a healthy breakfast every day.
• Drinking water or sparkling water, not sugary soda.
• Choosing 100% whole-grain bread and pasta.

Keep Your Resolutions

Once you’ve settled on a few attainable resolutions, these strategies can help bolster your self-motivation:

• Work on one thing at a time. Trying to stick to more than that could overwhelm you.
• Rally the troops. Let friends and family know your goals and ask for their support. Even better, include them in your plan! Team up with someone with similar resolutions so that you can work together.
• Mark your progress. Every few weeks or so, see how you’re doing with meeting your goals. Tweak your plan based on how things are going.
• Cut yourself some slack. Ate that extra cookie? Skipped the gym for a Netflix binge? It’s OK! Take a deep breath and jump back on the wagon. You’ve got this.

Source: The StayWell Company LLC