DON’T GIVE UP YET: 5 WAYS TO RECOMMIT TO THOSE RESOLUTIONS YOU MADE BACK IN DECEMBER

We’re a month into 2017, and you may not be where you wanted to be. Face it. You only went to the gym six times, and you wrote, like, one page of that novel you’ve been talking about. But no worries! There’s no time like the present to recommit to your New Year’s resolutions. We’ve got a few tricks to get you back on track.

QUIT WITH THE GUILT

Guilt is the worst! It makes you mean, it makes you judgmental, but, most importantly, it inhibits you from recommitting. Forget that you haven’t been at your goal since the first of the year, and look forward. The past is in the past, so leave it there.

WRITE IT DOWN

Like you’re in high school English class all over again, jot down an outline of the steps needed to make your goals a reality. Go as in-depth as possible, predicting any potential obstacles and accounting for necessary smaller steps. Mapping it all out will prevent the unforeseen roadblocks that usually knock people off track.

REWARD YOURSELF

There is a reason reward systems are in place, and it’s because we respond really well to incentives. Promise to give yourself a reward a month or two out for getting however many steps closer to (or fully achieving) your goal. Make it something you really want—a pair of shoes, a steak dinner, a facial. Sometimes, looking at the big picture can be a little too overwhelming and force us to cheat, give up, or stray. Little rewards can drive big results.

TAKE SMALL STEPS

If your goal is to volunteer, then take the small step of setting aside a day to research local charities. If your goal is to stop eating gluten, then clean out your cupboards, and donate the food. If you want a new job, redo your résumé. Think of it like the prep work for the real work. Breaking things down into manageable tasks will help you get a move on.

CREATE A MOOD BOARD

This is a fun activity that can get you jazzed about the changes you’re making. Plus, if you feel like straying, you can revisit your mood board to remind yourself of the importance of recommitting. Tack some things to the board that will inspire you, save you from cheating, or remind you why this is something you want for yourself. Get collaging!

Making changes is not easy, but it is worth it. Recommit, show up, and see this thing through!

Have you kept up with your New Year’s resolutions so far? Let us know! 

(Featured image via @macbby11)