As we head into a new calendar year, many people will reflect upon the previous year and look forward to the New Year. We will all be inundated with “New Year, New You!” type of advertisements.

So what exactly do you want to accomplish in 2018? Is it something health related such as losing weight, growing your business or starting a new business, or is it something about your personal development?

Whatever you want to achieve this year, you probably need to make some type of change to yourself or your habits. Here are some tips on changing your habits to meet your goals.

1. Commit Time: Everyone has probably heard that it takes 21 days for something to become a habit. I suggest using a month as a measurement of time for new habits. Commit to something for one month and plan one month at a time. The chunk of time will seem more manageable and you feel as though you have accomplished your goal faster than starting with a longer-term goal.
2. Action Plan: We’ve said it before on this blog: Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail. To create a new habit, you need to make an action plan or strategy for making that new habit. How will you help yourself make this new habit? What tools do you need?
3. Start Simple: It is human nature to want to change everything at once. But this strategy also sets us up for failure. Instead, choose one or two things that you feel you can accomplish. Once you’ve tackled those goals, make another one or two goals.
4. Grab a Buddy: The easiest way to make yourself accountable is to get the help of a friend, co-worker, or family member. If this isn’t available to you, then make yourself accountable in other ways. Write down the goal and make it visible so you see it every day. There are also apps available that can help to keep you accountable for the goals you make.
5. Remove Temptations: Depending upon the goal this might be difficult, but remove as many temptations as you can, especially in the beginning. Will power can only take you so far—you can resist the cookie jar 1,000 times but it only takes once to slip up. Instead, remove the temptation in the first place. Out of sight, out of mind.
6. Start Now: Instead of waiting for next Monday, the next day, the next month, the New Year, start your goal right now!

Good Luck!

Brittany Reese is a registered dietitian, personal trainer, group exercise instructor and food lover. Do you have questions or comments? Fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you very soon.