From wishes to reality

Have you noticed how most of the New Year resolutions dwindle by February? But, the only feel better thing is that you aren't alone. Every year millions of people promise to mend their ways for a better life on January 01, but find it as hard as catching a slippery fish. What do people usually promise to themselves? In every December, people around the world make almost similar promises. The most common ones are to get fit, save money, eat healthy, learn a new skill, stop lying to oneself and to spend time with family. While there are other resolutions, these are the most common.

Why we make resolutions: Though in the new year there's nothing new, it's the same with the same problems, there are also additional problems. Yet, the new year feels like starting a new chapter, every scene waiting to be filled with new stories. So, it's natural for us to take a break to think about how we can change the stories. Moreover it surely feels surreal starting fresh with everyone else around the world.

Do resolutions actually work: Well, who doesn't know that old saying that goes, "While there's a will, there's a way" so, yes! They can work, but if only you do them right. Research shows that 80 per cent of resolutions fail by mid-February, but don't let this discourage you. Those 20 per cent follow some clever strategies so stay tuned to learn how to make your resolutions successful.

Ways to make your New Year resolutions successful: The truth of having a successful resolution is to be picky and start small. Choose just two to three things that matter the most to you. And it's hard to start small given the humongous motivations. You want to drop some weights? Start with a simple 10 minute jog in the morning instead of promising two hours at the gym.

This leads to the importance of creating a clear plan. Instead of saying "I want to eat healthy" or "I will start going to gym" keep your priorities straight by "I want to have gluten free options" or "I'll leave for a five minute micro workout in my office after lunch". That being said, use the SMART method. What's that? Well, it is to make your goals Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound or the short form - SMART. "I'll read a book everyday" this resolution doesn't meet any criteria of the SMART method. What sort of book will you go for? Fictional, mystery or detective? And this is very difficult to read a book everyday given other chores. Instead make a booklist and plan your resolution like "reading 10 pages every night before bed".

Shifting the focus on finding a resolution buddy: Everything seems to be achievable with a friend. Even if one of them is unserious, the other will push the other. Find someone who shares the same goal as yours or can find any guardian angel who will support you. Having someone to check on you makes a huge difference. And their continuous checking will make you guilty of leaving your resolution midway. In the same way, create helpful reminders. Not necessarily you have to set an alarm every now and then. No! By putting your sneakers by the door, sticky notes on your mirrors or you can ask your mommy to remind you (if you ask her to wake you up at 7, she'll start calling you at 5 am). These little reminders can help you to stick to your resolution. Yet consider giving yourself time. According to research, it takes about 21 days to form new habits. Perfection won't come from the first day, give yourself enough time as you may wobble first, but keep on sticking to your plans.

Taking a closer look at your past attempts and learning from them can be another way to make your resolution successful. If you tried the same resolution in the past and if it didn't work, it's absolutely okay. Find what went wrong and curate your plan accordingly. Most importantly make your resolution fun, make it a game. Give yourself for passing each level (you can use a tracking app) and treat yourself for reaching a certain milestone. Despite all these ideas make sure to prepare for any obstacles. You can't let life lead the way you want, life happens. Having a backup plan when things get unbearable is a prominent way to make your plans successful. If for a family emergency you can't go for a morning walk, be prepared for a micro workout session.

Do not forget to reward yourself. Celebrate your small wins to make you motivated. Even sticking to your plan for a week deserves a treat. Just make sure the reward doesn't work against your goal. Having a cheesecake for your weeklong dieting? No!

Remember, every step forward counts, no matter how small. It's okay if you can't stick to your resolution for a day, start afresh from the next day. The secret isn't being perfect, it's about being consistent. So, are you ready to make 2025 different? Pick your goal, apply these strategies and transform resolutions from wishful thinking to reality.

What are your 2025 New Year's resolutions? Share with the writer at [email protected]