10 Tips for Setting Successful New Year’s Resolutions.

1.      Set intentions, not “musts.”

If you’re saying you “should” or “have to” give up smoking / lose weight/ get fit/drink less alcohol then already your resolution is starting to sound like a chore or a directive.

An intention on the other hand is an aim and has direction which feels more of a commitment from within, so more likely to be achieved despite whatever else is happening in your life e.g. I intend to enjoy better health ( so to smoke, not exercise etc would be in breach of this intention ).

2.      Connect with your “why.”

Ask yourself, “Why do you want what you want?”  Again, if your answer includes a “should” or a “have to,” scrap the goal. When we have an intention that is a deep desire and we can identify and stay connected to that WHY, it makes for meaningful and achievable resolutions that create happiness in our lives and the lives of those around us.

3.      Get out of your own way.

 Just setting an intention isn’t enough if deep down you don’t think you can accomplish it. The biggest misconception is that a good intention can overcome lifelong habits of thought and behaviour. Positive change comes not from pushing through with determination and perseverance, but rather through getting out of your own way. This means clearing up any negative thought patterns you may carry about yourself or your capacity for change. So how can you get out of your own way?

Firstly, it’s important to understand how negative thoughts drive your beliefs and behaviours. Often clients say to me “I don’t have any willpower” or “I have no self control” or “I can’t stop eating”. So listen to that inner voice and start to notice if the words are kind and encouraging or critical and self defeating such as those above. I often find negative thoughts are rarely accurate and only serve to sabotage your efforts. Hypnotherapy is excellent at not only finding the saboteur but also the source of these injunctions so you are able to choose more helpful positive statements moving forward. So feel free to book a session if this seems to be an area that’s consistently blocking you.

4.      Think of a Theme

One that encapsulates being more of the person you want to be. Write the theme down and keep it visible. It may as already stated in Tip 1 be “to be more healthy” which pulls together several stands of different goals such as quitting smoking, reducing salt intake to lower blood pressure, joining a badminton/tennis/keep fit club which ticks the regular exercise box and drink less alcohol or fizzy drinks and more water. Having a theme directs your mind to be making consistent decisions in your favour and gives the goal a wider context.

5.      Set goals that are in line with your values.

A strong resolution with a solid chance for success bridges that gap between values and action. So first identify your core values. Ask yourself what’s important to you. Take your top five and use them to create a personal mission statement. Then set your New Year’s goals based on that statement.

An example: “To participate in enjoyable physical activities three times weekly in order to feel strong, boost my mood and improve my overall sense of health and wellbeing.” Is much better than saying to yourself “losing weight is going to be a struggle because I can’t eat naughty food anymore”.

6.      Ditch deprivation.

People tend to approach New Year’s resolutions from a place of deprivation, restriction and punishment. The quintessential example is wanting to lose weight. People turn to diets or difficult-to-maintain intense exercise — both of which are the antithesis of lasting habits. Diets don’t work, if they did there would only be one and you’d only need to do it once. It’s simply an external rule set that you consciously follow and once you forget to remember, it’s back to your old habits which of course are what made you overweight in the first instance!

Once again hypnotherapy can explore and reprogramme the subconscious mind which is the part that drives your thoughts and behaviours and habits.

7.      Check in with yourself.

Review weekly. Celebrate successes and observe what you could have done better. You can then adjust to incorporate that learning for the coming week and continue doing what’s working of course. Often people fall at the slightest obstacle and write off the resolution completely. Being prepared for challenges and working out in advance how you’ll tackle ensures you stay focused and quickly get back on track.

8.      Break your goals down

Big goals are overwhelming, so sit down and consider the smaller ridiculously easy mini-steps that you can take. Make sure they’re realistic and achievable and the process will become much more generative.

9.      Ditch perfection.

Too-high expectations paralyze people, ensuring that you’re either too overwhelmed to even start or to maintain your goals once you’re there.

10.  Create a goal-friendly environment.

A common hurdle in accomplishing our goals is creating the settings and circumstances that cultivate them. A resolution that results in real change requires a shift in priorities. In other words, if you want to write the great novel, make time in your day to write. Buy the supplies you need. Seek a quiet spot in your house. Get a babysitter for the allotted time so you’re better able to concentrate on creating. If you want to get fit, make a date with yourself and stick to it, whether that’s joining a class or going for a walk. Emergencies aside make that time non negotiable or it’ll simply become a passing fad. Work it into your daily routines as you do with brushing your teeth! If your goal is to be fit – ensure the activity you choose is fun if it isn’t change it now!

New Year’s goals get a bad rap mostly because we set restrictive resolutions that don’t honour our values or ourselves. We set resolutions hastily, minutes before the ball drops, without considering what we truly want. Remember that your goals shouldn’t be trying and uncomfortable, but exactly the way you want this part of your life to look and feel like. This year, let the above tips help you create nourishing, positive and lasting goals and enlist my help at any stage of the process to ensure lasting success. Then you can set another – it doesn’t have to wait until 1st January next year!

Gina Brown – Hypnotherapist
CNHC Registered.
Dip.I Hyp GQHP,
NLP Practitioner,
EFT Practitioner
Caring help to achieve your goals
www.head4change.com
Tel: 01794 301771