5 Ways to Stick to Your New Year's Resolution

The new year has finally arrived, filled with champagne toasts and late-night celebrations. Yet, as the clock strikes midnight, there is one thing on everyone’s minds. That’s right, resolutions. We make them every year with the hope that we can aspire to something better than the year before, whether that means losing weight, getting more organized, saving money, or being a more compassionate individual.

But it’s not easy, we have all struggled in some way to meet our resolutions, and frequently our efforts end in utter failure. Studies show that only eight percent of individuals actually achieve their New Year’s goals. However, for the next 12 months you have a fresh slate, an opportunity to prove that you are not just a statistic.

We put together a list of five tactics to help you stick to your resolutions. Leave your doubt at the door (we know you can do it!), and get ready for a great year ahead.

1. Set Realistic Goals

Rome wasn’t built in a day (as the epigram states), and the same goes for your New Year’s resolutions. A deeply ingrained practice is hard to shake. Experts say it takes about 21 days for a new activity to become a habit and six months for it to become part of your personality. So be realistic—you can’t expect to accomplish your goals right away (and if you do, you are just setting yourself up for failure). It’s best to focus on one little thing at a time, and then build upon it. Baby steps are key.

2. Find What Fits

If your New Year’s resolution is to get in better shape, you are not alone (it was the top resolution for 2015). However, joining a gym is not necessarily the answer to achieving your fitness goals. Eighty percent of people who joined a gym in January quit by the second week of February. So find a workout routine that you truly enjoy—you are more likely to stick with it. Crank up your favorite tunes, try a new class, embrace the outdoors, and do what makes you happy—you’re bound to succeed!

3. Don’t Skimp on Flavor

Eating healthily doesn’t mean your food has to be bland. You can have flavorful food that is also wholesome. Don’t skimp on sweets and fats just because you think they are bad for you. In fact, the opposite is true. Glucose is essential for brain function, and fats are necessary to keep your skin and hair looking young and hydrated.

Everything in moderation. So listen to your body, and find a happy balance. If you start restricting foods that you really enjoy, you are setting yourself up to overeat later in the day. Try our Immune-Boosting Chia Pudding, Gluten-Free Beet Pesto Pizza, Seasonal Sangria, Grain-Free Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Muffins, Kale and Blueberry Protein Smoothie, and more—proof that meals can be both nutritious and delicious (sorry, we couldn’t resist the rhyme!).

4. Team Up

The buddy system is one of the best methods of reaching your goals. Sharing your resolution with a close friend can help hold you accountable and keep you motivated, which are essential to success. Your buddy should be someone who inspires you to be better than your current self, a positive individual who will encourage your progress and keep you on the right track. Better yet, if your buddy shares your New Year’s resolution, you can feed off of each other’s energy. You will feel more secure in your efforts, simply knowing that you are not alone. 

5. Subscribe to Success

Whether it is a gym membership or a monthly health regimen (like ALOHA’s product subscription plan), prepaying for a subscription can often be the ticket to sticking with your health goals throughout the new year. Money doesn’t grow on trees (although we wish it did), so it’s important to make the most out of your purchases. When we sign up for a 20-dollar non-refundable fitness class, you better believe we will show up (even if it’s at 6 a.m. and we’re extremely hungover). Paying for something in advance is just another way of holding yourself accountable to your ultimate objective.

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