How to Stick to Your New Year’s Resolutions

James Corden, the host of The Late Late Show, was talking about how each year he makes a New Year’s resolution to lose weight. Year after year goes by and he never does.

Sticking to New Year’s resolutions is hard for everyone.

When you slip up on the road to your new goal, discouragement sets in. After a few setbacks, negative self-talk begins, your old patterns boomerang back at you, and your goal gets thrown out the window.

How can you set yourself up to actually achieve your goal(s) this year?

To begin, break down your ultimate goal into daily, small achievable goals with an ABC Mastery Plan. This is a game plan where you set yourself up so that you never lose. 

Each week, set your ABC Mastery Plan before you take action:

A.      Ideal Outcome: Identify the goal you want to achieve this week.

B.      Backup Plan: When you can’t achieve plan A, move to a more achievable, and still valuable, goal—something that is a little easier to control.

C.     Safety Net Plan: When neither A nor B works, change your focus again to ensure success. You can do this by reflecting on what you learned so you can create a different plan for next week.

Here is a Week 1 scenario for a New Year’s resolution of living a healthy lifestyle:

A.      Ideal Outcome: Workout 5 days and eliminate dessert and alcohol.

B.      Backup Plan: Workout 3 days and eliminate dessert.

C.     Safety Net: I learned that I want to start with a smaller goal like walking for 2 days.

Here is a Week 1 scenario for organizing a workspace:

A.      Ideal Outcome: Organize all paper and electronic bills into folders and files.

B.      Backup Plan: Organize email inbox.

C.     Safety Net: I learned if I don’t block time in my calendar, this is not going to get done.

This strategy will guarantee success and keep you motivated because you are giving yourself permission to change your plan if needed.

It’s a mindset that is focused on growth and learning. You decide what success is by choosing the action you want to take in the moment.

While this may seem simple, it is a powerful energy boost and motivator.

Practice positive self-talk. Replace thoughts like, “I’ll never be able to live a healthy lifestyle” with, “Any amount of exercise is healthy.” Or, “I’ll never be organized” with, “By scheduling time on my calendar, I will be more organized.” 

Expressing gratitude will also help you achieve your goal. You can say, “I am grateful I am healthy enough to exercise” or “I am grateful I have a workspace to organize.”

Create your ABC Mastery Plan today and conquer your New Year’s resolution. 

“The first step is to establish that something is possible, then probability will occur.” 
—Elon Musk

The ABC Mastery Plan is based on concepts from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC.)