An Open Letter to Anyone Who Lost Track of Their Resolutions
February 5, 2019
Written by admin in Training,
16 min read How is 2019 treating you so far? If you’re finding it tough to stay on track, there’s one thing you should know. The truth is that most people who set resolutions fail. Yes, by the second week of February, a massive 80% of people have already ditched their New Year’s resolutions completely, as reported by U.S. News. If you’re a part of that statistic, you may be feeling frustrated, angry, and annoyed at yourself. Here’s an open letter just for you.
Don’t Beat Yourself Up
Looking at the stats, you’re not alone in finding it hard to stick to New Year’s resolutions. Whether it’s down to setting unrealistic targets or merely a lapse in willpower, the majority of us fail to keep the promises we make to ourselves. The first thing that you need to keep in mind here is that you shouldn’t beat yourself up about it.
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Not only will torturing yourself be a painful and unnecessary experience, but it will also hold you back. The aim is to move forward and get back on track. You’re going to find that strikingly difficult if you’re stuck in a toxic cycle of self-loathing. You’re only human.
You are Not Defined by Your Failings
Failure is a human trait. We all experience it, at some point. The point is not that it happens, but what you do next. You have two choices here – you can allow yourself to be defined by your failings and call it quits or you can see this as an opportunity to try again and make things work. Choose the latter! What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
Figure Out What Went Wrong
Next up, you might want to consider what went wrong. When the clock struck midnight on December 31st, you likely had the best of intentions. You had a goal and you were ready to stick to it. Retrace your activities and see where you fell down and what prevented you from sticking to your resolutions. You may find that the answer is something as simple as the fact that you didn’t have a proper plan in place or that you didn’t track your progress.
Bonus: 3 Simple Ways to Get Back on Track
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If you’ve already lost track of your resolutions, the thought of starting over may feel too colossal right now. However, you don’t have to give up. There’s time to turn things around and, with a little effort on your part, you can have the fresh start you have been looking for. Here are a few simple ways that you could get back on track and reach your goals.
Revise Your Resolutions (and be Realistic!)
Let’s talk about your resolutions. Were they realistic or unobtainable? One of the biggest mistakes people make when goal-setting is picking targets that are unreasonable. If you’ve made resolutions that are almost impossible to keep, sit down and revise them. Try setting SMART goals, which include incremental targets that are easy to reach.
Start Actively Tracking Your Progress
Have you been tracking your progress along the way? Research from the American Psychological Association suggests that continually monitoring your progress increases your chances of reaching goals. You could either use an app to keep track of your workouts or write them down in a notebook.
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Enlist the Help of a Friend
Sometimes, it can be hard to do it alone. You’re not a superhero. If you’re struggling to stay on top of your resolutions, you might find that having someone by your side will help you along the way. Try asking another motivated person to accompany you when you hit the gym. That way, you will spur one another on to work harder than ever.
Don’t let this obstacle hold you back! Use the tips we’ve listed here to get back on track and start afresh. You may feel as though you’ve missed the boat, but that’s simply not the case. Making positive changes in your life can happen at any point during the year. You’ve had a stumble, but pick yourself up again and carry on. You’ll thank yourself later.
