How to Stick To Your New Year’s Resolution?

How to Keep New Year's Resolutions: Steps to Success

Most people have made New Year's resolutions at least once. Yet, many struggle to keep these promises and feel disappointed when they fail. Understanding why it is hard to commit to self-made goals and knowing how to achieve them can lead to better results.

Why Keeping Promises to Yourself Is Difficult

Keeping a commitment to yourself builds self-trust. However, many people prioritize promises made to others over their own goals.

• Promises to yourself often get pushed to the end of your to-do list.
• There is rarely an immediate reward for keeping self-promises, making it harder to stick to them.
• When you break a private promise, no one holds you accountable but you.

Taking care of your personal commitments is much like putting on your own oxygen mask before helping others. Fulfilling self-promises lets you help others better.

How to Stick to Your New Year's Resolutions

1. Write Down Your Goals

Written goals are more likely to be accomplished. Studies show that writing down your goals increases your chances of achieving them by 42% (Matthews, 2015).

• List every resolution you can think of, even if you are unsure about some ideas.
• Prioritize the goals that matter most.
• Consider transcribing your resolutions for easier organization and reference.

2. Share Your Goals for Support

Telling others about your resolutions increases accountability. Positive feedback from friends or family triggers oxytocin in the brain, encouraging you to continue.

• Ask a trusted friend or group for support.
• Join social or online communities focused on goals and self-improvement.

3. Reflect on Why Resolutions Matter

Resolutions give you a chance to be honest about your life. They signal hope and self-improvement, which can boost your emotional and mental health.

• Setting even small goals can positively affect your outlook.
• People who believe they can grow are more likely to act and succeed.

Tips for Achieving New Year's Resolutions

Many people abandon resolutions quickly. The following strategies will help you keep your commitments throughout the year.

• Break Down Your Goals:
  • Divide large goals into smaller, manageable tasks.
  • If your goal is to exercise more, start with a simple workout schedule.
  • Find local resources, like a nearby gym, and set measurable targets.
• Update Your Resolutions Regularly:
  • Revisit your goals often and make changes as needed.
  • Set both long-term and short-term resolutions.
• Keep Your Goals Visible:
  • Place your written or transcribed goals where you will see them daily (e.g., on your fridge, desk, or mirror).
  • Use a checklist to track your progress and enjoy the reward of crossing off completed tasks.

4. Use the SMART Goal Framework

The SMART method makes goal setting more effective and is widely recommended by psychologists (Doran, 1981).

• Specific: Write down exactly what you will achieve.
  • Example: "I will walk 20 minutes every day," not "I will exercise more."
• Measurable: Track your progress with clear criteria.
  • Example: "Lose 10 pounds in 2 months."
• Attainable: Set goals that challenge you, but are achievable.
  • Ensure you have the needed skills or resources.
• Relevant: Make sure the goal is important to you.
  • Reflect on why you want this change in your life.
• Time-Bound: Set a deadline to create urgency.
  • Example: "Read one book by March 1."

Examples of New Year's Resolutions

• Improve physical fitness by exercising three times a week.
• Save a set amount of money each month.
• Learn a new skill or language with online courses.
• Spend more quality time with family.

Helpful Tools for Resolutions

• Use automated transcription to convert spoken goals into text.
• Rely on AI-powered transcription services to keep an ongoing record.
• For video or audio goals, add closed captions or subtitles for better accessibility.
• Ensure accuracy by using transcription proofreading services.
• Translate your goals into other languages with text translation or audio translation services for global support.

Track Your Progress and Adjust

Review your written or transcribed goals each week. Celebrate small wins and make changes if something is not working. Persistence is the key to success.

Get Inspired

If you need motivation, consider watching Reggie Rivers' TED Talk on setting goals. Turn on the captions and recognize the value of having a reliable transcript for every inspiring speech.

GoTranscript: Your Partner in Achieving New Year's Resolutions

Organizing and tracking your goals is easier with the right tools. GoTranscript offers transcription services that can help you document and reference your resolutions with accuracy. For those who want to keep their resolutions accessible and actionable, explore our affordable transcription pricing and captioning services pricing. Ready to begin? Order transcription or order captions today to take the next step toward your 2024 goals.