You’ve probably heard that daunting statistic that says that only eight percent of Americans keep their New Year’s resolutions, but don’t let it deter you! The experts have a pretty good idea of why these early-year goals tend to go unmet, and it has less to do with willpower and fortitude and more to do with loftiness and attainability. In other words, most people set their resolution sights too high. Whether it be a healthy new diet plan or more productivity at work, achieving your yearly resolutions is a whole lot easier if you choose ones that are actually well within your reach.
In this guide, we’re going over some simple “baby step” goals that will help you finally make a New Year’s resolution and stick to it. Not only are you much more likely to follow through with these small life changes, but you’re also less likely to experience deep feelings of inadequacy and failure should you find yourself veering off course. The last thing you’d want is to aim to better yourself, only to lower your self-esteem in the process.
How to Set Achievable Resolutions
But “within reach” means different things to different people, and the attainability of your goal will depend largely on your unique situation and where you’re starting out. So how do you determine whether your goal is attainable or not? In general, it helps to set a goal that’s a baby step forward from where you are now. For example, if you don’t exercise at all now, start with one or two days a week, making sure to think about the long-term. After a month or two, add an extra day and kick up the intensity.
Achievable Goals to Try This Year
Looking for some New Year’s resolution ideas that you’ll be able to conquer and keep? Here are a few simple ones that won’t overwhelm you.
- Floss three times per week. This is one of the simplest life improvements you can make. Whether it takes using flavored floss or setting a reminder on your phone, try to keep the floss in play at least three times per week.
- Try a low-FODMAP diet. If you’ve got digestive troubles, consider trying a low-FODMAP diet plan. This will help you zero-in on what’s causing your digestive distress. To make it even easier — and to ensure that you stick to it until you figure out your triggers — sign up for low-FODMAP meal delivery.
- Catch up with friends weekly. Don’t forget to include socializing into your plan for better overall health. Being a good friend to others fills your life with joy and provides you with support when you need it yourself.
- Cook one extra day a week. A goal as lofty as never eating out again is only going to get broken, so be realistic with yourself about how much energy you can put towards cooking each week. Adding a day or two is often enough to improve your overall health — and confidence! — without overwhelming.
- Exercise three or four times per week. If you’re just starting out with exercise, don’t think about getting in four or five workouts each week. Start with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) exercise guidelines for adults, which recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week (such as a brisk walk) and two days of strength training. You can break this up into three or four weekly sessions for a more attainable option.
- Track everything you eat. Tracking what you eat with a fitness tracker (such as MyFitnessPal) is a little bit of extra work, but it doesn’t in and of itself require you to make any big life changes. It may, however, open your eyes to your eating habits and inspire you to make small tweaks to improve your health.
- Create a chore day and stick to it. If your life needs a little bit of structure, a simple resolution might be to create a scheduled day for laundry or doing chores. This will help prevent the tasks from piling up throughout the month.
- Read one book a month (or, if you’re not much of a reader, one book every two months). In other words, don’t go into the New Year expecting to get through that towering stack on your nightstand in the month of January. Give it time and don’t rush a good book! Joining a book club (online or in-person) can be a great way to get motivated to read more.
- Branch out. New Year’s resolutions don’t always need to be about diet and exercise. They can also be about helping you grow as a person and strengthening your self-confidence and mental health. One great way to do this is to get in the habit of trying new things. Whether it’s a goal as simple as listening to a brand-new album each week or getting on an app to meet new friends, being more open to new people and ideas will help you become a better person.
- Skip out on indulgences during the week. Don’t deprive yourself of things you enjoy, even if they’re bad for you. Instead, set limitations. For example, keep certain indulgences to a weekday-only basis, such as sugary coffee drinks, alcohol, candy or ice cream, and limit it to a small amount on weekends.
- Go easy on yourself. The most important resolution of them all is to go easy on yourself in everything you do. Beating yourself up over a slight failure or misstep is only going to toss you into a tailspin of self-doubt, and that’s counter to the cause! Give yourself a break.
You Know Yourself Best
At the end of the day, finding an achievable resolution comes down to you. Be honest with yourself about your shortcomings and limitations, and don’t be afraid to make achieving goals easy for yourself. Making positive life changes should be more about inching towards a good future, not scaling a massive mountain. Take small steps and you’re much more likely to succeed in the long run!
