It's the beginning of February, which is a dangerous time if you've set New Year's resolutions. You've done the hard work for a solid month now, but you're starting to think of quitting or backing out. Maybe sticking to your goals takes more time and effort than you anticipated, or you're not seeing results as fast as you'd like.
Regardless of your reasons, stopping now only means you'll be disappointed in yourself later. Plus, you'll be that much further from accomplishing your goals. Here are a few tips for sticking to your resolutions for this month and beyond:
Set goals
It's harder pursue a vague resolution than a specific one. Thankfully, it's not too late to make your goals more clear-cut. Instead of simply losing weight, work toward losing one pound per week. If your original resolution was to become a runner, for example, you can switch it to train for the GMS Queen City Marathon.
Make definitive goals - for example, training for the Queen City Marathon.
Log your progress
It's hard to see if your resolutions are working without proof, especially over a period of several weeks. Keeping a record of your progress lets you review where you started and how far you've come since you started.
Seek help
If you find it's hard to stick to your resolutions on your own, consider getting outside support. Share your goals with friends who will hold you accountable, or enroll in a weekly class with a set schedule.
Be patient and persistent
The cliche is true: Change doesn't happen overnight. Progress takes time and is often a lot harder than we think it is to accomplish. Don't be disheartened if you don't see improvement. You've just hit a plateau, and the only way forward is to push through.
Get back on track
Keep in mind that, unless you're incredibly self-disciplined and have the world's most consistent schedule, it's impossible to be 100 percent perfect with your resolutions. You'll fall off the wagon occasionally, and that's okay. The key is that you pick yourself up and get right back to your goals.