HOW TO GET YOUR NEW GOALS BACK ON TRACK

Apparently, most of us have already given up on our New Year’s resolutions. But if you were determined to make a change and lost your way, Emma can help you find your resolve again

f you’ve already ditched the commitments you made to yourself on the first of the month, don’t fear. By employing a few strategies you can still turn things round…

STOP RUSHING

Taking an all-or-nothing approach is the biggest reason why people give up. When you convince yourself that to succeed you have to commit to significant changes, and stick to them, however big the impact on your life, you end up overwhelmed. Then, the moment you hit a stumbling block, you throw in the towel. Research suggests that a habit takes 21 days to form, so change won’t come straight away. But this figure should spur you on, because it suggests that if you persevere just a little, your new behaviours will soon feel natural. Go back to your goal, check it’s specific (lose 10lb by August), not vague (slim down) and break it down into achievable milestones. That way, you feel you’re constantly achieving, not overburdened by the bigger picture. For weight loss, decide on a realistic weekly amount that you intend to shift, then create a meal plan to get you there.

DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP

If you have a bad day, see it as just that, and vow to do better tomorrow. If you promised to make going to the gym a habit but missed it thanks to a mad work week, don’t beat yourself up. The important thing is not to let one slip-up derail your entire year. Find a friend who’s taking the same journey as you and agree to tell each other every time you “fail” – that way you’ll be less likely to do it again. But more importantly, when you have people invested in you, you’re far more inclined to succeed.

USE TECHNOLOGY

If fitness is your goal, get a tracking app to log how many steps you do each day and set weekly targets (try Runkeeper). If you want to eat less meat, download a vegetarian recipe app like Kitchen Stories, or if being better with money is the aim, use a budgeting app such as Plum. Life’s better when you feel you’re in the driving seat, so re-establish your goal, really plan it and get moving towards an even better version of yourself!