It’s once again time to ring in the New Year by setting your very own New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps you plan to try out that hobby you’re interested in or you want to spend more time with your family. You always start out with the strongest motivation and noblest of intentions; it is, after all, a “new year, new you.” However, life can end up getting in the way of fulfilling your goals, and you may wind up falling back into your same old habits.
When you’re swept up in the stress of work and other events in your life, your resolutions, whether it’s a few weeks or a few months after you made them, can end up falling by the wayside. But don’t worry — there are many ways to combat a waning motivation. By following these tips from your friends at Huffines Hyundai in Plano, Texas, you can not only keep your resolutions but also have fun doing it.
Pick Something You Enjoy
It may seem like it’s against all the rules, but your New Year’s resolutions don’t have to be a chore. If you know you don’t like running, why commit yourself to a year’s worth of torture to get in shape or run a half marathon at the end?
It’s easy to make a resolution out of something you enjoy but don’t do as often as you would like. Do you love to cook but find yourself eating takeout or premade food for every meal? Make a resolution to try a new recipe once a week. Do you love to get outdoors? Make a list of hiking trails and other recreational activities around Plano and aim to try them all out by the end of the year.
Partner with a Friend
The buddy system really works. Getting a friend, or a whole group of friends, to participate in the same resolution as you or even just track their progress with you can be vital to maintaining your resolution.
If you’re getting yourself out of bed an hour early every morning to hit the gym by yourself, you’ll be tempted to just hit that snooze button. If you have a few friends waiting for you there, not only are they expecting you, but it’ll be a lot more fun once you get there. Friends hold you accountable, offer support, and, if they have more self control in moments where you’re struggling, their strength may just rub off on you.
Talk it Up
When you’re persevering in your resolutions, you’re doing something amazing. You deserve to brag about it. Talk about it to your friends and family when they ask you about your resolutions and remind you to, well, actually do them.
You can also take this a step further: we live in the age of the internet, so why not document your progress on Instagram or TikTok? Anyone on social media knows the power of a like to lift your mood, and you may find support and suggestions from complete strangers attempting the same resolution as you. Additionally, if you’re doing something where you can see visual changes, this is a great way to look back on your progress.
“Stick” to It
Stickers aren’t just for kids. If you had a sticker-chart classroom as a child, you know that nothing felt better than getting a sticker for good behavior and proudly putting it up. But here’s a secret: you can appreciate a good sticker just the same when you’re a grown-up. Just get yourself a calendar and the coolest stickers you can find and then give yourself one every time you practice your resolution. Not only will you feel proud of yourself as you watch the stickers go on, but you can also track your progress and notice trends.
Treat Yourself
Every New Year’s resolution should have concrete goals and milestones. But what’s the point of milestones if there aren’t rewards? When you reach a significant milestone you’ve set for yourself, you should reward yourself accordingly. Maybe that’s with going out to eat at your favorite local restaurant or going to see the new movie you really wanted to see. You could even plan out the rewards at the beginning of the year.
If you’re building to something in particular, your rewards could start small and get bigger as you get closer to your goal, or you could think up different rewards and put them all in a bowl together to add an element of surprise when you’re pulling them out.
Relax and De-Stress
There’s nothing worse for achieving your New Year’s resolutions than being stressed about your progress. Before you sit down to work on your resolution in entirely the wrong head space, try to take some time for self-care: go for a walk, meditate, jam out to your favorite song, or do whatever works best for you. If you’re more centered and less anxious, you’ll be able to work on your resolution more effectively. And if your resolution is to improve mental health or mindfulness, well, you’ve already gotten started.
Now, armed with these helpful strategies from your friends at Huffines Hyundai Plano, you’ll be having so much fun keeping up with your New Year’s resolutions that you may just make it all the way into next year and beyond. What New Year’s resolution has you feeling excited this year? What are your plans to follow it? Drop us a line and let us know on our website. You can also come tell us all about it in person while we get you a great deal on one of our new cars.