Apply These 4 Techniques to Stick to Your New Years Resolutions

Have you ever kept a New Year’s Resolution?

The Statistic Brain Research Institute reports that only 38% of Americans make a New Year’s Resolution and of those who do, only a fraction (8%) actually achieve it. Why are the odds so stacked against you keeping and holding to a resolution? Perhaps it has less to do with you and more to do with the resolution.

Let’s take a look at the most common New Year’s Resolutions:

For 2015, the number one New Year’s Resolution for Americans was, you guessed it, weight loss.

No surprise there.

Weighing in second, third, fourth and fifth were: getting organized, spending less and saving more, enjoying life to the fullest and staying fit and healthy respectively.

For many who set resolutions, there seems to be no set finish line for success.

If you set weight loss for a resolution but don’t choose a number on the scale or a lower size of jeans to fit into, how will you know when you’ve met your goal? What concrete motivation will keep you from lapsing back into your old ways?

We are here to give you four ways to keep better track of your goal, and make sure you fall into that 8% who do succeed.

New Years Resolutions are common, but few stick to them. Make sure you are in the minority with this runner friendly, helpful guide showing you how to make sure you achieve your running goals this year, no matter how big or small.

Create a Road Map

One great resolution for beginning and advanced runners alike is to set a mileage goal for the New Year.

Having a special number of miles to run, like 2,016 miles in 2016, is a great goal, but a little overwhelming to look at on January 1st knowing how far you have to go.

Rather than looking at your goal in a year block, break it down. 2,016 miles in 2016 means an average of 168 miles each month or 38.7 miles each week.

38.7 miles each week looks a lot more manageable than the yearly total. Some weeks may be lower, some higher, but looking ahead one week at a time keeps your focus on the here and now, not in the months ahead.

What’s the bottom line?

Whatever your goal is, set smaller, weekly or monthly goals that will help you on your way to the big one, that way, you won’t bite off more than you can chew in January and burn yourself out.

Just like you pace yourself for a successful race, you can pace yourself to a successful New Year’s Resolution!

Handle Temptation Actively

Knowing your personal weakness means you can attack it to achieve what you want.

Many runners struggle with the motivation to simply get out the door, especially in the winter. Choosing to set a specific time of day to run so that you have a standing appointment with yourself can help you with your daily motivation.

If losing weight loss is your goal, choose a number that you want to see on the scale, but don’t just write it down and forget about it, post the number in places where temptation is high, like the fridge, or on the dashboard of your car if fast food is a temptation.

Or if your goal is to fit back into your skinny jeans from college, hang them on the closet door where you can see them every day as a reminder.

What’s the bottom line?

Take a moment to pinpoint the obstacles that stand in the way of your resolution then brainstorm ways to face those obstacles head on and counter them with positive, alternative choices.

Make it Personal 

Your New Year’s resolution can be anything you want, so choose something that will be a personal victory for you to achieve.

Running a marathon is a New Year’s Resolution that many runners choose. There is something about the 26.2 mile distance that makes it the perfect challenge, but add in some personal flavor to your own journey to make it even more meaningful.

For example, many runners with friends and family members in the military choose to run the Marine Corps Marathon in honor of their loved ones.

Or perhaps you’ve always wanted to see the Pacific Ocean but never had a reason to go, find a California Marathon to schedule a trip around, giving yourself a huge incentive to hit your goal.

If you are struggling for ideas, you could also check out our unusual and extreme races of the world.

What’s the bottom line?

Find something that is important to you and your life goals that will make sure you stick to it.

Invest in Your Goal

Investing in a goal doesn’t just mean putting your money where your mouth is, it means putting your mouth where your goal is.

Start spreading the word, tell your friends and family and co-workers what your goal is and when you plan to achieve it, encouraging them to check up on your progress throughout the year.

When others are invested in your goal, it keeps you honest.

Buying your hotel and travel and race entry ahead of time is another investment that will prompt you to follow through with your goal. The more money, time and support you have toward your goal, the more motivated you will be to achieve it.

What’s the bottom line?

If you share your goal, you are more likely to stick to it. Although achieving your goal should be mostly for you, by involving others, you will think twice before you back out.

Conclusion

The most significant statistic about New Year’s Resolutions is that those who explicitly make a resolution are 10 times more likely to achieve their goals than those who don’t, so take some time to make a truly significant, personal resolution this year.

After all, you’ve got to step up to the plate to have a chance at a homerun!

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Who We Are

Your team of expert coaches and fellow runners dedicated to helping you train smarter, stay healthy and run faster.

We love running and want to spread our expertise and passion to inspire, motivate, and help you achieve your running goals.

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