91制片厂

New Year鈥檚 eve is in the rearview mirror but those resolutions are front and center and if you鈥檙e already struggling to keep them that is perfectly normal. Katie Godshall, a clinical assistant professor in the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) at the 91制片厂 and an expert in the field of mental health, reminds that change can be hard and before throwing in the towel it鈥檚 important to remember why those resolutions were important in the first place.

鈥淒on鈥檛 get overwhelmed with feelings of guilt and disappointment if this resolution isn鈥檛 working for you,鈥� says Godshall. 鈥淭he most important thing is to be kind to yourself. Chances are your resolutions were focused on healthier choices for the new year so rather than piling on the self-doubt and other bad feelings, take a moment to look at why your resolutions may not be working.鈥�

According to a study by the Pew Research Center, less than a month into the new year, only a little over half of people who made resolutions on New Year鈥檚 Eve have kept them. Many have abandoned their pledges in less than a week, or before Quitter鈥檚 Day which is the second Friday in January.听

Resolutions usually start out with a lot of motivation and drive but over time the momentum can slow causing people to quit all together. Before giving up, Godshall recommends asking yourself three key words 鈥� what, how and why.

鈥淢ake sure you鈥檙e being realistic,鈥� says Godshall. 鈥淎sk yourself what are you trying to accomplish? How are you trying to get it done? Why is it important? And, make sure you鈥檙e not tackling too much too soon. Be honest with yourself and if it鈥檚 not working for you, it鈥檚 perfectly fine to step back, reassess and adjust鈥攐therwise you鈥檙e doing yourself a disservice and may be just as unhappy sticking with the resolution as you would be if you quit.鈥澨�

Godshall says reframe your view. Don鈥檛 think of it as quitting but resetting your goals. She even goes as far as suggesting picking another time of year that may better fit your goals.

鈥淲e鈥檙e just coming off the holidays, filled with indulgence and chaotic schedules, so some people may already be starting off on a bad foot,鈥� says Godshall. 鈥淢aybe use this time to prepare and set yourself up for success. For example, research good running sneakers and do some stretching and opt to start a running routine in the spring, when the weather is nicer.鈥�

Here are some other tips for reassessing resolutions:听

Unrealistic expectations
Don鈥檛 be afraid to examine and reset goals. Is the resolution achievable or is it too ambitious? Is it flexible enough to fit into your daily schedule?听

Be kind to yourself
Even if you feel guilty or unmotivated, don鈥檛 feel you鈥檝e failed. Rethinking goals is still moving forward鈥攊t鈥檚 not giving up, it鈥檚 adjusting.

It鈥檚 all about being a better you
This resolution was supposed to help you so don鈥檛 let it bring you down. Don鈥檛 feel the need to strive for perfection. Focus on what works best for you.

Buddy system
Find a partner in resolution. Ask a friend, family member or co-worker to join you. Having someone to collaborate with can give external reliance and accountability. Maybe meet them at the gym or go for a walk at work during lunchtime.听

Celebrate success
If you reimagine your resolutions and move forward, make sure to celebrate small milestones, even if the road is bumpy. Focus on the progress and enjoy the journey.