The ScoopHOW TO MAKE (AND KEEP) NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
It’s that time of year again, when everyone starts making changes to ensure that 2023 will be the best year yet. We love the practice of making New Year’s resolutions, but we know that keeping them is not always easy. In fact very few people are actually able to make them stick.
So, what can you do to make 2023 the year you finally follow through on your resolutions? Tranont President Scott Bland recently shared three proven tips that work for him and his family.
Reflect back but look forward
There’s a saying that, "It is hard to drive forward looking in the rearview mirror".
This means that when you’re too focused on failures, struggles, and setbacks that happened in the past, you won’t have the energy and motivation you need to work on your current goals and find new opportunities.
Scott follows this philosophy when setting resolutions and offers his advice:
"Reflect on everything you’ve done this past year: What did you accomplish? What did you miss? What could you do better? Learn what you can, but then realize that what has happened has happened. The only way to grow is to let go of the past, and set your sights forward.”
Write down your resolutions
2023 brings a fresh start for all of us. Think about what you can do that will change the future in a positive way. Then take it a step further and write it down. Post your resolutions on your fridge, frame them on your desk, print them in dry-erase marker on the bathroom mirror, or paste them in your journal or planner.
Scott explains that a written resolution is always more powerful than a goal kept in your mind:
“Writing down your goals helps you to clarify exactly what you want to achieve. When your goals become visual, they feel more memorable and tangible, which makes it far more likely that you’ll find success.”
When writing your resolutions, be as detailed as you can. Make sure they pass the SMART test, meaning they’re Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely.
And, along with writing your goals down, consider sharing them with a best friend or family member. When you repeat your goals aloud in front of others, you’re more likely to stick to them, because you’ll feel more accountable.
Manifest your goals in a letter to your future self
Keep yourself on the right track by writing yourself a letter as if 2023 is over and you’ve accomplished all your goals.
Scott makes this a New Year’s tradition in his family:
“Write a letter in the past tense, thanking yourself for taking specific actions towards your achievements. Think through everything that will happen in your life in 2023—the events, milestones, and occasions—What will you do? What will you learn? How will you feel? Write yourself as if you've already experienced it all, then seal the letter and set it aside for the entire year. At the end of the year, open it, read it, and celebrate your accomplishments.”
Allowing yourself to visualize what you want to happen can be an incredibly motivating tool. It allows you to experience what it will feel like to achieve your goal, and believe more whole-heartedly in your ability to succeed. When you manifest your thoughts and reframe your mindset, it helps focus you and allows for clarity moving forward.
Want more tips?
If your New Year’s resolution is about losing weight, looking your best, or improving your daily health routine—get more tips on following through with the Tranont New Year’s Challenge .
If you've struggled to keep your New Year’s resolutions in the past, don't lose hope. Try these three tips to make and keep resolutions that stick. Let’s all commit to making 2023 the year we finally follow through!