6 Ways to Create (and Keep) New Year’s Resolutions in 2017

Posted on December 30, 2016

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Taking a good, hard look at daily behaviour is the key to setting realistic self-improvement goals.

In the early Babylonians believed that what people did on the first day of the year affected what they did for the rest of that year. Many see the brand-new year as a perfect opportunity to start over or to change bad habits.

The most popular resolutions people often make are related to health and fitness – eating better, losing weight, and exercising, reducing consumption of alcohol, caffeine, quitting smoking and becoming more financially responsible by promising to spend less and save more.

Unfortunately, more than 70% of resolutions are broken by the end of January, and this will leave a person feeling discouraged and even more despondent than before.

In order to achieve our resolutions, it is required for us to take a hard look at our own thoughts and behaviours. To keep ourselves on track, setting goals is essential but stamping out old habits might be difficult, and may even require the help of a professional.

Striving for self-improvement and setting goals for ourselves create a sense of hope for the future. Be sure to make your goals a priority, be specific, and work at them daily!

Here are six tips to help you in sticking to your New Year’s Resolutions:


1. Make Specific Goals – break down goals into smaller steps. For example, if your resolution is to consume fewer carbohydrates, resolve to eat carbohydrates only at one meal per day rather than resolving to eliminate carbohydrates entirely.

2. Write your resolution down – put it somewhere where you can see it daily. This helps you to stay focused on your goals.

3. Hold yourself accountable – by letting others know about your resolution.

4. Coping strategies – to deal with obstacles that may arise along the way. For instance, if your goal is to cut down on alcohol, you may consider skipping parties or events that involve a lot of drinking or bring a sober friend along to provide you with support and help keep you on track.

5. Self-Reward – reward yourself at each milestone. It is important to be conscious of the rewards you chose. If you resolve to spend less money; reward yourself by getting a massage instead of going shopping.

6. Seek help – be open in seeking professional help when needed. Knowing when to ask for help takes a great deal of courage, strength and wisdom.


Good luck and Happy New Year!


Source material from Psych Central