The 6 Best Tips and Hacks to Help Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions
January 5, 2018
We’ve all been there: When the New Year arrives, you’re full of motivation, pumped about your resolutions, and ready to take on the world. But then the second week of January rolls around…and suddenly, it’s a lot harder to stay on track.
That’s why we’ve compiled our favorite apps, hacks, and other tips for actually keeping your New Year’s resolutions in 2018. And they’re not nearly as arduous as you might think. From clever goal-trackers to new ways to broadcast your aspirations, the coming year starts looking pretty rosy with this advice under your belt.
1. SHORT BUT SWEET: New Year's resolutions function pretty similarly to to-do lists, in that having an endless number of tasks to accomplish will psych you out pronto. Common to-do list advice suggests we should work on a maximum of three tasks at a time, and that transfers to your personal goals, too. Narrow your focus and you'll have a better shot of making changes that actually stick.
2. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS: Having trouble keeping your New Year's resolutions? There's an app for that. Well, lots of apps. For resolution-makers who want to build action plans, write goal journals, and otherwise throw themselves deep into a big life change, GoalsOnTrack offers a suite of handy features. For more minimalist types, Done is an aesthetically pleasing habit-tracker that makes it super easy to log your meditation sessions or workouts. And Strides is an excellent all-rounder, with smart goal-setting features, in-depth data breakdowns, and helpful alerts to nudge you when you need it.
3. MAKE YOUR GOALS PUBLIC: Sure, you don't have to put "I'm starting a savings account!" on a t-shirt and wear it around town. But keeping friends and family looped in on your goals is one of the best ways to ensure that you don't give up on them too quickly. Planning to start your own business in 2018? Make a pact to catch up with a friend about it every week, or create a new Instagram account where you can track every step of the process. You can also take Coach.Me for a spin. The app connects users with a community of fellow goal-makers who will send virtual high-fives when you hit your milestones.
4. THINK POSITIVE: If you routinely struggle to keep your New Year's resolutions, it might be your resolutions' fault. No, really—if you set punitive, negative goals, it's going to be extra hard to stick to them. Try this instead: Rather than banning dessert, say, challenge yourself to find a new, vegetable-led recipe every week. Instead of cutting down on spendy nights on the town, focus on all the cool books and movies you've been meaning to get to at home. By framing your goals as positive opportunities for discovery, they'll feel much more like rewards than punishments.
5. BE SPECIFIC: As much as we admire a general goal like "change the world" in 2018, try drilling down to goals that are hyper-specific, tangible, and can be planned. Volunteering for two days a week is a goal you can slot into your calendar right now, and composting at home is a plan you can prep for. By honing in on individual targets, you still can change the world (and avoid an existential crisis in the process).
6. IT'S PERSONAL: The best way to keep your New Year's resolutions, though? Give the clichéd goals a pass, and only choose ones that actually, really matter to you. Have you always wanted to learn how to make your own pottery? Want to give lake swimming a try? Inspired to learn Hungarian? When they reflect your hobbies, your interests, and your own colorful spark, then your resolutions are always going to be more compelling, and more achievable.
1. SHORT BUT SWEET: New Year's resolutions function pretty similarly to to-do lists, in that having an endless number of tasks to accomplish will psych you out pronto. Common to-do list advice suggests we should work on a maximum of three tasks at a time, and that transfers to your personal goals, too. Narrow your focus and you'll have a better shot of making changes that actually stick.
2. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS: Having trouble keeping your New Year's resolutions? There's an app for that. Well, lots of apps. For resolution-makers who want to build action plans, write goal journals, and otherwise throw themselves deep into a big life change, GoalsOnTrack offers a suite of handy features. For more minimalist types, Done is an aesthetically pleasing habit-tracker that makes it super easy to log your meditation sessions or workouts. And Strides is an excellent all-rounder, with smart goal-setting features, in-depth data breakdowns, and helpful alerts to nudge you when you need it.
3. MAKE YOUR GOALS PUBLIC: Sure, you don't have to put "I'm starting a savings account!" on a t-shirt and wear it around town. But keeping friends and family looped in on your goals is one of the best ways to ensure that you don't give up on them too quickly. Planning to start your own business in 2018? Make a pact to catch up with a friend about it every week, or create a new Instagram account where you can track every step of the process. You can also take Coach.Me for a spin. The app connects users with a community of fellow goal-makers who will send virtual high-fives when you hit your milestones.
4. THINK POSITIVE: If you routinely struggle to keep your New Year's resolutions, it might be your resolutions' fault. No, really—if you set punitive, negative goals, it's going to be extra hard to stick to them. Try this instead: Rather than banning dessert, say, challenge yourself to find a new, vegetable-led recipe every week. Instead of cutting down on spendy nights on the town, focus on all the cool books and movies you've been meaning to get to at home. By framing your goals as positive opportunities for discovery, they'll feel much more like rewards than punishments.
5. BE SPECIFIC: As much as we admire a general goal like "change the world" in 2018, try drilling down to goals that are hyper-specific, tangible, and can be planned. Volunteering for two days a week is a goal you can slot into your calendar right now, and composting at home is a plan you can prep for. By honing in on individual targets, you still can change the world (and avoid an existential crisis in the process).
6. IT'S PERSONAL: The best way to keep your New Year's resolutions, though? Give the clichéd goals a pass, and only choose ones that actually, really matter to you. Have you always wanted to learn how to make your own pottery? Want to give lake swimming a try? Inspired to learn Hungarian? When they reflect your hobbies, your interests, and your own colorful spark, then your resolutions are always going to be more compelling, and more achievable.
