NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION STILL GOING STRONG? KEEP IT THAT WAY

Why is it that bad habits form without much notice, but good ones require dedication and persistence?

Change can be difficult to wrestle with—science tells us that a shift in routine challenges us in unexpected ways—since there’s additional fatigue, burn out, and emotional turbulence.

Luckily, this rollercoaster is temporary, since the likelihood of a habit sticking becomes much more likely after 66 days (according to a British Journal of General Practice study) If you’re committed, here’s how you can outlast the remaining 45 days..

1. Get really, really specific. Without a clear benchmark, you won’t have context for your goal.
2. Notice how we said ‘goal’, singular? Developing tunnel vision for one goal betters your chances at seeing it through to completion. If you have multiple goals that go hand in hand (say, kicking soda out of your diet and drinking more water), those are exceptions to this rule.
3. Be realistic. If you haven’t seen the inside of a gym in a while, deciding to go 5x a week could be considered overly ambitious. Small progress is still progress and you can always build on a resolution over time.
4. That being said, give yourself some room for error. It’s very likely that you’ll slip up, indulging in that brownie or hitting the snooze button instead of getting up and going to your yoga class. The big takeaway here is to not let these little hiccups derail your progress.
5. Ask for help by telling others about your resolution. We’re certainly not endorsing the idea that this has to be public, but enlisting the help of close family and friends can have a positive effect that’s twofold: unexpected company and a healthy source of support.

Use our five helpful tips and grab the New Year by the horns! Your progress awaits.