You probably know that studies show most new year commitments don’t last much into February.
I think a big reason for that is that we often choose a commitment and then forget about it after a few days into January.
· Did I go to the gym a few times? Check.
· Did I eat a balanced lunch yesterday? Check.
· Is my attention turning to something else already…? CHECK!
That can happen when we get caught up in the excitement of a new year without focusing on the right mindset.
It’s not difficult when you think of it like this:
· You’re more likely to stick with a commitment when you keep it top of mind. Apps on your smartphone can be great for this, like yellow post-it notes you carry everywhere. For example, if you started recording your food and water intake on January 1, it’s helped you pay attention to what you consume throughout the day. (And you’ve learned, I hope, that “pay attention” does NOT mean “judge harshly.”) And then did you look back and notice what you could learn from your food journal without bullying and demeaning yourself?
· You form new habits when you start small and attach them to existing habits. At the beginning, you want to make a logical, easy connection between a behaviour you hope to adopt and one you already do without thinking. If you started January determined to practice Pilates every day and started with five minutes after brushing your teeth, then by now, you don’t have to try so hard.
· You stay focused when you consistently note your progress. If you’re trying to reach a movement goal, refer to the track record you’ve been keeping since the start of the year. That record would include things like your beginning exercise, that movement getting easier, choosing a harder modification and perhaps even accomplishing the full movement by now. Update these weekly and you can always see your TRUE progress – not how you might be feeling on a bad day.
So, think back about those new year’s commitments you made. If you wrote them in your journal, find that entry and read it again.
