7 Steps for Sticking to Your New Year's Resolution

According to U.S. News & World Report, 80 percent of New Year's Resolutions are dropped by mid-February. Why does the motivating spark of the New Year dim after just a month and a half? Many people do not set themselves up for success. They get overwhelmed, let the hustle of life takeover and give up before they even ever really get started.

We're here to help you keep the New Year spark through the entire year with these 7 steps for sticking to your New Year's resolution.



1. Pick an attainable goal that you feel excited about. It's important to feel motivated about your goal without feeling overwhelmed.



2. Create a step by step plan. Break your resolution into smaller measurable goals. For example, if your resolution is to participate in a race then the first step would be to add a daily run to your routine, the next would be to improve your time/pacing and lastly it would be to sign up for the race. The more small goals you reach, the more motivated you will be to reach your ultimate goal.

3. Ask for help. Whether that's getting a friend involved or hiring a personal trainer/health coach, having someone there to hold you accountable will help your resolution stick.



4. Keep track of your successes and failures. Studies have shown that writing down your goals increases your chances for success. Plus Habit trackers and fitness journals are a great way to reflect on your achievements and failures. It will help you discover your weaknesses and strengths so you can tweak your routine and set yourself up for success.

5. Make it more than a New Year Resolution. Think of it more as a lifestyle resolution that can happen at any point of the year. This takes some of the pressure off and will prevent you from quitting and putting it off until the next New Year if you find yourself slacking.



6. Set yourself up for success by making it as easy as possible to fit your goal into your everyday routine. Home fitness equipment can help you stay on track even on the busiest days or when the weather is too bad to do something outside.

7. Don’t give up after a bad day. Life sometimes gets the better of us. Don't let one bad day stop you from continuing. Remember to cut yourself some slack. There are 365 days in a year. That's a lot of new chances to get back on track.

The steps above will help you keep moving on your journey to health, but the most important thing is to remember to have fun, to power through discouraging feelings and remind yourself that the ultimate goal is a healthy, happy life. Here's to 2020 and to being the 20% that sticks to your New Year's resolution!