Don’t underestimate the power of small steps. Set realistic expectations for your resolutions. Whether you’re planning to lose weight, save money, improve your mental health, pursue further education, or achieve another goal, the tips below can help:

1. Identify and Set Realistic Goals

Start by clearly identifying your goals and ensuring they are realistic. A helpful framework is SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

2. Focus on the Process, Not Immediate Results

Once you have a SMART goal, focus on building a process to achieve it. Avoid obsessing over immediate results—it’s a common trap. Remember, "no pain, no gain." If you establish the right process, you can achieve your goal and even surpass it.

3. Align Your Goals with Your Values

Make your goal part of your value system. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, focus on becoming a health-conscious person. Build self-care into your values instead of fixating solely on the weight-loss number. Take a holistic approach that includes regular exercise, healthy eating, routine check-ups, managing inflammation, and walking.

4. Create Sustainable Habits

To help you succeed and maintain progress, develop a process that is simple and sustainable. This might include:

• Setting up cues to encourage healthy or financially responsible habits, such as subscribing to motivational blogs or podcasts.
• Surrounding yourself with people who have the traits and qualities you admire.
• Making your cues accessible and easily visible to help you maintain your habits.
• Continuing the process until your habits become automatic. Over time, each time you see your cues, you will develop an automatic response that aligns with your desired outcome.
• Remember that while outcomes are important, they can become a trap. Once you reach your outcome, you may fall back into old habits. That is why focusing on the process and the value of being healthy is more important. A strong process will lead to the development of a healthy lifestyle, rather than just achieving a temporary goal.

5. Setbacks Are Part of the Journey

Don’t give up when faced with setbacks. Instead, reset and learn from them. Rather than letting setbacks discourage you, view them as opportunities to improve. Focus on the small progress you make daily or weekly. Outcomes are not achieved by trying once or twice but by being consistent over time.

6. What Gets Measured, Gets Improved

Keep a scorecard of your progress, no matter how small. Track both your victories and setbacks. There is much to learn from both your successes and challenges.

By integrating these strategies, you can stay committed to your resolutions and make meaningful, lasting changes.

If you need further help with mental health, book your appointment with one of our psychologists by contacting NewVista Psychology via the following ways:

1. Use our matching system to find a psychologist that is right for you at: https://newvistapsychology.com/match/ or
2. Email us at info@newvistapsychology.com or
3. Call us at 587-200-3248