How has your start to 2020 been?
Hopefully, you had a nice ease back into normal life and are now beginning to get back into the swing of things.
At the start of every new year, all we seem to talk about are ‘resolutions’. What are you going to change about your life to make it better? To make it healthier? To make you smile more?
New gym routine, new eating plans, new rules around drinking – all new, new, new – which is great!
You can make changes at any time of the year, but if January allows you to make the change and commit to it with more confidence, then more power to you.
And what better time than at not only the start of the new year, but the start of the new decade!
However, coming up with what you want to change is the easy bit – sticking to it is what makes or breaks a person.
One of the best tips I can give is to set yourself little checkpoints to keep you motivated as you go – mini-goals on the way to your big goal. This will mean that you get that sense of accomplishment gradually, as opposed to having to stick it out all in one go.
Another tip is to make changes that will actually change your life for the better. Don’t make changes just because you think you should or because of peer pressure – make changes because they’re going to actually improve your life for the better. Not only will you feel more motivated, but you’ll also feel a bigger sense of accomplishment.
Lastly, in order to make something a habit, you need to enforce what’s called a ‘positive feedback loop’. That means that you need to feel positive at the end of each instalment on your way to establishing the habit. For instance, if your goal is to get fitter, you need to feel positive after going to the gym. Understandably, at the start, this isn’t going to happen because these new habits will feel like a chore or hard work. So, after you complete an instalment on your way to establishing your habit, make sure you do something positive after. Treat yourself to a bit of TLC, play a video game, or some sort of reward. This will help to encourage your brain to see this as a positive act, and help you to stay more focused and consistent.
If you’d like some more help with making 2020 your happiest, healthiest year, then send me a message.