So 2020 probably wasn’t a banner year for resolutions and that’s okay! When you’re making your new year’s resolution, please remember that resolutions do NOT have to be focused on losing weight, counting calories, or shrinking your waist. There are so many ways to make positive, healthy changes in your life that don’t have anything to do with a number on a scale or a calorie counter. Embrace yourself, your journey, and get started on the right foot this new year. 

If you haven’t made a resolution yet, no worries! There’s no date or deadline you need to abide by, because any day is a good day to start bettering yourself! Let’s review my top tips to help you start off your resolution strong!

Start Small

It’s pretty impossible to drastically change your entire life in one day. Trust me, I’ve tried. Instead, set small goals that will help you reach your big goals. Is your resolution to be active every day? Start with a goal of 5 minutes each day for two weeks. If you do more, great! If you don’t feel like doing ANYTHING AT ALL one day, 5 minutes of activity (like walking to get the mail) is way less daunting than 30 minutes or even 1 hour. Bump it up to 15 minutes after you’ve got that down, and so on. 

Use an Accountabili-buddy

Ask your best friend, mom, sister, anyone that can text you to help keep you accountable. Tell each other about your goals and talk about them! Remember to be honest – it’s about encouragement, not judgment, so you have to be real about when you’re struggling or slipping so they can help lift you up! Bonus if you have the same resolution. For example, if you’re trying to read more, read the same books or swap suggestions!

Give Yourself Grace 

Life happens and things get in our way. If you are struggling to keep up your resolution or if you fell off the wagon and it’s suddenly August, remember that any day is a good day to try again. Feeling negative about how you’ve done? Try a “but” statement – “I’m no good at this, but the more I do it, I’ll get better!”

Keep Track Of It

The gold star sticker method doesn’t only work on preschoolers. Not only do visuals help encourage you when you see the progress, but they serve as a great reminder! Hang this tracking poster somewhere you’ll see it every day, and just scratch it off! You can get it in 3-days-a-week, 5-days-a-week, or 365 days, so you can track any type of resolution. If you have multiple resolutions, you can try a habit tracking planner where you can track multiple habits or activities, and update them throughout the year as your goals change. Also, this journal is a bonus if your resolution is to be more organized 😉

Do it for the right reason: YOU! 

It doesn’t matter how big or small, impactful or frivolous your resolution is, just do it for yourself. Never set a resolution based on what you think someone else wants of you, or what you don’t really want for yourself. If your heart’s not in it, you won’t stick to it. 

Not sure where to start to make a positive change? Here are some suggestions: 

• Create and manage a 12-month budget.
• Read more (Need suggestions? Try my favorite books by black authors!)
• Make more friends, because we all need a tribe.
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.  
• Learn a new hobby (did someone say rock mining and cleaning?)
• Volunteer your time 
• Invest in self-care (Check out my previous blog post to see how you can learn to love yourself better, because you deserve it.)
• Make your bed every day
• Be kinder to yourself (get a boost from these books, too.)

Here’s to 2021!