Losing weight and getting fit is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions that people make. However, even before the month of January is over, most people have already given up on their resolutions.
Shocking? No not really. Changing habits and forming new habits is not for the faint hearted. When New Years rolls around, we are full of great intentions. We are going to join the gym, drink less and eat clean. Great idea! By the summer we'll be walking the promenade in Bray wearing our daisy dukes and mortifying our off spring. Wahoo! Sounds wonderful. Then it comes time to execute our plan of action. This is where the waters get choppy. There are many reasons why people fail to stick to their resolutions. Some examples being, poor time management, setting unrealistic resolutions or a lack of self-belief. One reason you might not be able to stick to your resolutions or goals, may be a lack of self-discipline. If this rings true for you, read on.
1. Do the thing you hate the most first. - Make yourself do the thing you least want to do first. If you are not a massive fan of exercise, but realise it is an evil necessary, make sure you schedule it, to get it over and done with first. Set your alarm a bit earlier and get out for a quick 30 minute walk before the kids get up or schedule it to be the first thing you do when you get home from work. Or let's say you hate meal planning, so Friday evening you take pen to paper and decide what the meals are for the following week and do your shopping list. Set aside a few minutes to sit down and just do it. You then have the rest of the weekend to enjoy, without that chore hanging over your head. Whatever is your least favourite thing to do, get it done first.
2. Take action every single day towards your goals - Get into the habit of taking action every single day that will move you towards your goals. Commit to 10,000 steps every day. To eat clean every day. To search up weight loss success stories (be careful with that last one because you might end up down a YouTube rabbit hole). Taking action creates momentum and achieves goals. Daydreaming does not.
3. Delay gratification - this is a tough one. We want it and we want it now. By delaying gratification you can create little rewards for yourself. Don't have the glass of wine on the Tuesday night because you have had a long day and the world seems out to get you. Wait until Friday or Saturday. Pour a glass of wine on a Saturday night when you can put your feet up and relax and reward yourself for surviving the week alcohol free. (Remember to always drink sensibly!). Don't order the Chinese on Friday, thinking you deserve it because you home cooked healthy meals all week. Save up the take away money and treat yourself to a swanky date night at the end of the month to celebrate your success this month.
4. Praise yourself - Many fail to see their resolutions through because of self sabotaging actions. Praise yourself for all your little achievements. Went for lunch with the girls, did not order desert. Go me! Went for a walk in the rain when I didn't want to. Go me! Went to my fitness class even though the fire was lit and my dinner was waiting for me. Go me! Ignore the self sabotaging voice that says, eat the mars bar, stay home, ah sure you're grand the way you are, (even though you have silently moaned to yourself every minute of this day, right up to this very second, about the way you are).
Doing the thing you hate the most first, taking action every single day towards your goal, delaying gratification and praising yourself for all your achievements, big or small will create the necessary self-discipline to see your resolutions through. It is not easy to change patterns of behaviour but it is possible and the more you consciously make the effort, the more natural the new behaviour will become. Remember you made the resolution for a reason. If you are teetering off the edge of the new you band wagon, commit to one more week. Tell yourself you will do another 7 days, incorporate the steps above and see how you get on. After the next 7 days, you might just find the motivation to do another 7 days!
I wish you all the best with your resolutions and goal setting for 2020! I would love to hear from you if you have any tips to share about self-discipline or if you would like help achieving your goals in 2020.
Niamh works as a personal trainer and fitness instructor in her studio located in Straffan, Co. Kildare. She focuses on helping every day women bring their sexy back! If you would like more information on Niamh's services email info@fitnesatthebodyshaper.com
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