With the New Year comes the chance to kickstart New Year resolutions. However, sticking to them is quite another matter. A few months down the line, and the resolution may turn into an all-too-familiar joke. However, there are ways to make sure that these intentions aren’t a failure. “The New Year is an enviable time to make changes. The chance to make a new start helps to make positive lifestyle changes,” observes life coach Chetna Mehrotra. While you don’t need to have a superpower to achieve these goals, life coaches we spoke to tell us that an iron will definitely comes in handy.
Chetna suggests that it is important to reflect on the reasons for adapting a habit instead of blindly taking it up. “Once you understand why you have undertaken this, come up with a plan on how you want about it. Take some time to introspect on it everyday. Understand why you want to undertake this challenge. This will ensure that no barriers will stop you from achieving your goal.” Next, comes the all-important task of figuring out how to achieving these goals. “Resolutions need to be well-defined,” explains Chetna. “‘I want to lose weight’ by itself is not a good enough resolution. So if you are looking to lose weight, make a note on how much weight you intend to lose. Continue working towards it till you achieve it,” she adds.
Trying to accomplish too many goals can lead to disappointment. Life coach Khyati Birla suggests starting small, and changing one behaviour at a time will help replace unhealthy behaviour. She adds, “Break your long-term goals into short steps and set milestones for yourself. So if your resolution is to quit smoking, start with reducing from a box of cigarettes to maybe half and reach a point where you eventually quit smoking.”
Joining a support group or sharing your struggles and successes with a friend or colleague can make the journey towards a healthier lifestyle easier. Khyati says, “It is very easy to be demotivated, especially since it is difficult to break away from small habits. Seeking support from your friends or co-workers may go a long way. Having someone to share your struggles and successes makes your task less intimidating.”
Chetna cautions that having unreasonable expectations from yourself will only lead to disappointments. She explains, “A little reward goes a along way in making the resolution work — reward yourself once in 21 days but make sure you do not overdo it. Enjoy the journey of achieving those goals and do not be desperate to reach your goal.”
