Whether you want to get fit or learn to play an instrument, here's how to set yourself up for success.
Let this year be the one you finally follow through with your new year resolutions. We are creatures of habit, and it can be hard to break old habits for new ones. But there are ways to set yourself up for success - and we've put together 8 simple steps to help increase your chances for success.
1.Write it down
If you write down your goals, you'll have a higher chance of accomplishing them as you'll feel a greater sense of accountability. And don't just leave them in the back of a notebook somewhere. Put it somewhere you'll see it everyday, stick them on your fridge, or write it on your bathroom mirror in whiteboard markers.
2. Be (really )specific
Say your goal is to live a more healthy lifestyle. You need to get really specific with how you'll do that. So start with one thing and grow from that. So start by drinking more water, once you've got that sorted, exercise once a week, and then introduce one new healthy recipe a week.
Pretty soon, drinking enough water will be easy, you'll be exercising three times a week and you'll have a repertoire of healthy meal ideas, as these small everyday changes add up to help you achieve larger goal of leading a healthier lifestyle.
3. Share your goals
Having a form of accountability can help you stick to new habits. Share them on socials, or tell your best friend about what you're trying to achieve. You may just help them to make changes, and you can encourage and support one another.
4. Set reminders
Making something a habit requires work, so make it easier for yourself and set reminders in your calendar. Instead of relying on pure desire or willpower each day, plan ahead, schedule out a week of workouts, organise to catch up with a friend over a walk or go to a new class together.
5. Stack your habits
Attaching your goal to another activity that you do every day—a tactic called habit stacking—can also make it easier to stick with your new goal. Pairing your new habit with a small everyday routine you already do. For instance, if you want to create a daily habit of writing in a journal, do it right after brushing your teeth.
Every evening, those two actions should be associated with each other: brush teeth, write in journal. The more regularly you do it, the more automatic it will become.
6. Regularly check progress
Check in regularly as to how you're going, as once you start making changes you may find your original goal was unrealistic, so instead of feeling defeated adjust your goal. Look at your lifestyle and how you're actually doing, if things have changed give yourself permission to make changes to something that you can sustainably do. Or maybe you're doing really well and you're ready to add in something new, and you want to stretch your goal to something else.
7. Celebrate small wins
If your focus is on an end goal that will take some time to achieve, it can be hard to keep up that initial motivation, so celebrating your progress is key. Training to run a marathon? Celebrate every long run with small rewards, like a fancy coffee from your fav cafe, or a new outfit to get you looking and feeling great. When creating a new habit or working towards a lofty goal it’s crucial to recognise and reward your smaller successes along the way.
8. Don't give up
We're only human, and there will be miss steps and days where you fail. But don't let these small instances stop you. Consistency is key when it comes to creating a new habit. One setback shouldn't undo all the work you've put in. Acknowledge the setback and move forward. Remember, you've got this!
We hope these steps help you follow through with your resolutions and make this your best year yet. If your resolution is to eat healthier, one simple step to a healthier lifestyle can be making the change from sugar to honey. We've got loads of healthy and delicious recipes featuring our range of honey here to give you the inspiration to make simple changes. Or checkout our reels for more inspiration