Out with the old and in with the new! Can you believe I’m writing a post about this during the holidays?? Crazy, I know. Who talks about resolutions before January 1st?

Ok, listen up. Let this holiday season MOTIVATE you and propel you into the New Year with guns blazin’. You must have a “take no prisoners attitude” this year if you are yet again setting a “get healthy” resolution. Why am I saying this?  Because chances are you are coming back to some of the same resolutions as you’ve set in the past (maybe more than once). Now,  I don’t want us to get hung up on why those past resolutions didn’t stick– that’s counter-productive. We need to forge ahead and focus on the new goal you have in mind and how you will get there.

Here are some solutions to staying the course on your journey to your health-focused resolution:

1. Shout it out! Let your family, friends, co-workers, Facebook pals, whomever, know about your goal. Own it completely and show confidence in your desire to make self-improvements. By announcing your resolution to others, you’ll likely get a lot more support than trying to keep it to yourself and do it alone. There is no reason be alone in working on your resolution. The more positive encouragement around you, the more likely you will be to stick to it and succeed.
2. Write it down. Everywhere. In your phone, on your iPad, on your work calendar, on a post-it on your fridge, have that goal all around you. This will serve to remind you that you are on a mission.
3. Make a plan. This is the tricky one. We can all say we want to “do” something” but if we don’t plan HOW we will do it, it’s a lot less likely to happen. Scheduling time to work on your goal is essential for your success. I suggest using a few quiet minutes on a Sunday to map out your workouts or fitness classes. Put them in your phone as you would a business meeting. Don’t miss a meeting with yourself, you are too important to cancel on.
4. Be accountable. The familiar quote: “The most important relationship you have is with yourself” is the meat and potatoes of self-accountability. By setting a resolution and making plans to work it, you are essentially making a promise to yourself. Keep your promise and when you find that you’re not sticking to it, own up to it, and the most importantly, REFLECT and RESTART. Do not let a missed workout or a bad meal, or even a bad day, stop you from getting right back at it. You are allowed to give yourself a second chance, you are human after all.
5. Celebrate victories! Pat yourself on the back, clap for yourself, whatever you need to do to celebrate, do it! Find HEALTHY ways to treat yourself after a great week of working on your goal/resolution. Some ideas would be to have dinner out one night a week, treat yourself to a spa pedicure or sports massage,  or purchase yourself a new piece of workout gear that you want to add to your growing collection!

So now that we’ve covered some tips on how to really commit to your resolution, what do you say? Are you ready for 2016? Don’t wait until January 1st– start RIGHT NOW.

Need help? Working with a Health Coach is that extra support that may be exactly what you need to keep your eyes on the prize. I can help keep you motivated and accountable. Please email me at [email protected] to set up your consultation!