It’s safe to say that everyone was glad to say goodbye to 2020 and hello to 2021, with a hope that things will get better this year. More than ever, our resolutions probably included being healthier, getting more exercise, learning how to de-stress, along with some fun ones like maybe learning a new hobby or spending more time with family. But by mid-February, 80% of us will have already given up on our resolutions. Beat the odds and maintain your 2021 New Year’s resolutions in Grays Harbor with these helpful tips.
Make a Plan
Most resolutions fail because it takes around two months for something to become a habit. That’s quite a long time to do something that you may find hard, inconvenient or easy to forget. Making a plan that includes not only your resolution, but how you are going to keep it, is the best way to make sure you get past that two-month mark. Technology has made this so much easier! Your smart phone has a calendar where you can put reminders to make sure you don’t forget and to make sure you have made time to do whatever is you have resolved to do.
Maybe your resolution was to get fit. It’s easy to put “go to the gym” or “take a break and do yoga” with an alarm set. And if getting fit is on your New Year’s resolution list, check out Summit Pacific’s Wellness Center, it’s a great place to start.
Maybe you want to have a family game night each week. Pick a night and put it on everyone’s phones so no one can claim they forgot when making plans with their friends or work.
If you want to learn a new skill, see if you can find classes nearby. Having a class to go to can keep you on track. You can check out classes at local parks, arts and recreations, or the Grays Harbor Community College. Want to learn to paint? The Aberdeen Art Center may have a class you’d like.
For those looking into a healthier lifestyle via eating better, making a reminder to visit the local Famers Markets might be a great start. Or, join a Community Support Agriculture (CSA) plan. Then, fresh food will be ordered and all you have to do put in that reminder to pick it up.
Need to get away more in 2021? Why not make a standing monthly reservation at your favorite beach hotel or forest getaway. That way, the plans are set and you can’t tell yourself you are too busy to go.
Choose Something Enjoyable
As mentioned above, it can be hard to keep something up if you see it as something you have to do, versus want to do. So, the easiest way to make those New Year’s resolutions stick is to pick something you find enjoyable. If getting fit is your goal, think of active things you like to do and decide to do more of that for the first part of your journey. It could be surfing, learning to skimboard, or walking your dog more. Fitness doesn’t have to be found in a gym.
Doing something you like will not only be easier to keep doing, but it will also make you happier, and may even relieve some stress!
Have an Accountability Partner
Another way to make sure you maintain your New Year’s resolutions is to have an accountability partner. This family member or friend will be there to check in and ask: “Did you do your workout today? How did go?” Even better is a partner with the same resolution, so you can do things together! Whether in person or via Zoom, fulfilling New Year’s resolutions with a friend or family member is much more fun!
Accountability partners could also be a professional you hire to help you with your new plans. Maybe you would like a personal trainer, like the ones at the YMCA of Grays Harbor, to help you figure out which exercises are best for you, or a professional organizer to help you finally declutter your home.
Having someone there to encourage you, check up on your progress, and celebrate getting past that two-month mark can really have an impact on whether you keep up your resolutions.
Hopefully these tips help you keep your New Year’s resolutions. Remember, the point of a resolution is to better your life in some way, so don’t take it too seriously. If you are not enjoying yourself, find a way to change your plan to make it more enjoyable.
Here is to a happy and healthy 2021!
