10 Secrets To Making Your New Year’s Resolution A Success

It’s beginning to look a lot like ‘New Year, New Me’ – time to put down our final mince pie, brush off the crumbs and decide what it is we need to change about ourselves in the new year. However, like most years, we come to the conclusion quickly after facing the New Year’s Resolution decision that it most likely won’t work and we might as well quit whilst we are ahead.

But fret not: psychologists have come to a conclusion recently that we are more likely to succeed in our mission of ‘New Year, New Me’ if we break up our resolution into smaller goals that are specific, measurable and time based. So, here are some handy top 10 goal-setting tips to help you get started on your new self.

Don’t wait until New Years Eve.

Starting a diet on the morning after the party of the year? Bad idea! Psychologists suggest we begin goals such as diets, or cutting alcohol, up to a week before in order to not apply too much pressure on ourselves.

Only choose one resolution

Giving up multiple vices will make us more prone to failure due to channelling energy in too many places. However, if you choose only one resolution, you will only be changing one aspect of your behaviour and therefore be able to give it all the focus and attention required.

Don’t copy anyone else’s resolution!

What they want to do for themselves shouldn’t apply to what you need to do for yourself. Only look out for number one, if you don’t need to give up chocolate – don’t! Which leads into point number 4….

Avoid old resolutions!

If they were not successful, there is a reason. Deciding to revisit a past resolution could lead to frustration and disappointment. Keep ideas fresh and exciting.

Tell family and friends about your goal!

Sharing your experience with them will help them understand what you want to achieve, and you’ll be more likely to receive support and avoid failure.

Break your goal down into a series of steps.

If you want to want to improve your work ethic, don’t expect yourself to be writing all your essays in one day. Small actions each day will add up to a more concrete result.

Keep motivated 

Write a list of how achieving your resolution will benefit you, even if it’s just making your day easier. Alternatively, keep a journal. Documenting your progress will not only help you stick to your resolution, but can also help you see how far you have come.

Give yourself a small reward!

Yes, would you believe it? Psychologists believe small rewards throughout times of change help motivate us, and improve our mentality towards the change.

And finally, don’t be frightened if at times you revert back to old habits! It was a habit, something that has become part of you, don’t see it as failure if it creeps back in once in awhile. Embrace it as a temporary setback, and keep moving forward.

So don’t be afraid to make a plan, or aspire to change. Just keep these top-tips in the back of your mind and you’ll be on the journey to success, whatever the challenge.

Inspiring Interns is a graduate recruitment agency which specialises in sourcing candidates for internships and giving out graduate careers advice. To hire graduates or browse graduate jobs London, visit their website.