It’s a week from NewYear’s Day. Have you upheld your resolution?

Despite the 40-50% of the American Adults who participate in this annual tradition, it is estimated that less than 20% of them successfully adopt the behavior for good. The good news: we’ve got some tips to help you reach and maintain your resolution.

1. Be SMART about your resolution. By doing so, you can increase your success rate by ~10%!

2. Confront your barriers head on. By anticipating possible barriers, you will be able to proactively brainstorm strategies to overcome them (not to mention decrease the associated anxiety and stress)! For example, if time is a barrier that stops you from exercising, take 5 minutes to brainstorm some ways to add physical activity into your day-to-day routine. You’ve probably heard the common “park further away from the store” or “take the stairs, not the elevator”, but are there any other ways to increase activity levels? Start by critically analyzing your behavior. Is there a way to sit less and stand or move more? Stay tuned…we will be writing an entire article about this soon. In the meantime, if you have any unique ideas that work for you, send them our way; we’d love to hear from you!

3. Think outside the box. Many New Year’s Resolutions revolve around a number (ex: I want to lose 5 pounds by March, make X amount of money, read 2 more books a year, etc). Sometimes we focus so much on numbers that we forget about our feelings. If your original resolution was made to make you feel healthier, happier, stronger, etc., then focus your resolution on those feelings rather than an arbitrary number (which may make you feel worse in the end).

4. Involve those you love. By discussing your resolution with a friend, spouse, and/or  your entire social network (blogging, Facebook, twitter, etc.), you become accountable for your actions. Even the strongest willed people benefit from a little accountability once in a while.

5. Believe in yourself. Remember, you make your destiny. If you are truly ready, and genuinely want to achieve your New Year’s Resolution, you will. Try writing down a few positive affirmations….you might just be surprised by how motivating they are!

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”  ~Eleanor Roosevelt