How to Keep Your Resolutions in 2022

Follow this advice and you'll be more likely to stay strong well into 2022.

Let's take five minutes to see this week in a new light. By Wendy Rose Gould & Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Top of Mind How to Keep Your Resolutions in 2022   Like clockwork, so many people put pen to paper and write down a few things they'd like to change or accomplish in the coming year. For some it's financial goals, for others it's lifestyle shifts, and for others it's more introspective.   Whatever the case, making New Year's resolutions is very different from keeping them. Follow this advice below and you'll be more likely to stay strong well into 2022.   Sometimes, the difference between success and failure is simply choosing the right goal and the process you use to go about achieving it."  — KENDRA CHERRY, MS   Be Specific & Clear Nebulous goals may sound and feel good in the moment, but they don't provide us with much direction. For example, creating a resolution to "meditate more" isn't going to be as easy to follow and achieve compared to "meditate 10 minutes every other day."   Specifying a concrete, achievable goal gives us an opportunity to create a game plan so that even if we do veer off course, we know exactly how to jump back on the train. Think Smaller While stretching and pushing ourselves can be good, sometimes it makes us feel overwhelmed. In the same way you wouldn't run a marathon without ever having run, it's important to take small steps toward an achievable goal. If you still want to set a big goal for yourself, also outline steps or "milestone goals" that help get you there and celebrate each one. Revisit Goals Throughout the Year Even if we spend hours writing down our resolutions, it's important to re-read them throughout the year to ensure we stay on track. Try putting a reminder in your calendar to check on them once every month or two as a personal check-in. If you're off track, take some time to outline a new game plan.   On the Bright Side Ways to Stay Positive This Week Ways to Nurture Your Mind and Body  This week, set aside 15 minutes to think about the way you approached your New Year's Resolutions in the past. What goals have you achieved over the years, and why do you think you had success? What goals fell by the wayside, and why do you think that happened? By reflecting on the past, we can better prepare for our future. Keeping organized can help us visualize our goals as we work toward accomplishing them. Plum Paper takes the idea one step further by creating a wholly customized planner. Not only can you choose the design, but you can personalize the pages to reflect what's most important to you. If you prefer a digital approach to making and keeping goals, download the New Years Resolutions Tracker 12+ app. It helps keep you accountable by tracking your daily, weekly, and monthly progress. If you're looking for a new self-help book to inspire you to make positive changes in the new year, here are seven of our favorites.     This Week on The Verywell Mind Podcast   On tomorrow's episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast, I talk with Mariel Buquè, a holistic psychologist and sound bath meditation healer who specializes in helping people heal wounds that stem from intergenerational trauma.    Tune in to hear her advice on how to heal from intergenerational trauma, and how to break the cycle.    Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / RSS Read These Next Remove the Pressure of Resolutions and Set Realistic Goals  READ NOW How to Create SMART Goals for Lifestyle Changes READ NOW A Goal-Setting Strategy for Long-Lasting Change READ NOW Spread the Light Share the newsletter with someone you know to make their day a little brighter. SHARE We're open to suggestions! If you have any feedback about this newsletter, let us know at feedback@verywell.com.     You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Healthy Mind newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here. If someone forwarded you this email, you can subscribe here!   A DOTDASH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10005   © 2021 Verywellmind.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy