You’ve set your New Year wellness goals – here’s how to actually stick to them, according to experts

WITH EACH new year comes new resolutions for many, but oftentimes people find themselves struggling to keep up with them.

While data shows that many people will not accomplish their New Year goals, experts have weighed in to show how fulfilling resolutions can be achievable.

“People like to create a fresh start for themselves and believe that the best time to do so is when a new year begins – new year, new and fresh start,” Jennifer Kelman, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and expert for JustAnswer.com, told The Sun.

“Most know that doing so may bring inherent stress, but often feel like they can handle the stress if they just stick to the resolution.”

According to YouGov America, 39% of Americans plan to or are thinking about making a New Year’s resolution for 2022.

Unfortunately, a report from UAB Medicine Marketing revealed that less than eight percent of resolutions are ever actually fulfilled.

Jennifer said this is because people are overburdening themselves with goals as they look ahead into the year to come.

“People create a fantasy around the resolution.

“They believe what they tell themselves and say things like: ‘This time I am really going to stick with things,’” she explained.

“Many times people create too large of a goal to be really achievable.”

However, she said it’s all about setting realistic goals.

KEEP ON GOING, EVEN WHEN YOU’VE LOST HOPE

“People give up on their resolutions because the goal was insurmountable from the beginning,” Jennifer explained.

“Rather than setting small steps toward achievement, it became the all or nothing plan or the go big and go home.”

She continued: “That philosophy may be too much, too fast.”

In addition to creating more digestible New Year’s resolutions, Jennifer recommended coming up with your goals with a friend or a group of trusted people so you can hold each other accountable.

And if you find yourself wanting to give up, Jennifer said you don’t need to.

Instead, she recommended taking another look at the resolution at hand and seeing if something needs to be managed differently.

“Perhaps the resolution you came up with was an overreach and that is why you have fallen off track,” she stated.

“Individuals do better with small, actionable steps, so instead of saying, ‘I am running out to get that gym membership,’ maybe say, ‘I will run or hike three times in the next week.’” 

THE BIGGEST RESOLUTION OF THEM ALL

Jennifer’s gym membership scenario closely aligns with reality, as there’s traditional favoritism toward health and wellness-related resolutions.

Statista reported that the top five New Year’s resolutions all have to do with fitness or financial wellness.

“Doing more exercises or improving my fitness” hit the top spot with 50% of respondents answering that as their 2022 goal. 

Next in line are those solely focused on losing weight.

While people often make the goal to get active or lose a certain amount of weight, the process of actually doing that can be quite daunting. 

That’s why Lori Andresen, a personal trainer and founder of Yes You Can Fitness LLC, recommends working with a professional to help jumpstart those goals. 

“I always tell my clients to set small goals for themselves, baby steps,” she told The Sun, adding that it’s important they feel “confident and comfortable.”

“Some people have never set foot inside a gym or picked up a weight, so we as fitness instructors need to find ways to keep them motivated [and] make workouts challenging but fun.”

Lori said making personal connections with a trainer is a great way to stay focused, but if you’re not working with one, bringing a buddy to the gym is also an ideal motivator.

And for those who want to turn off that stair climber and walk out of the gym?

Lori reminds those folks that reaching one’s goals takes “drive and determination and realizing that everything takes time.” 

She added: “I tell them push-ups can start from the wall to your knees, then graduating to your toes. 

“One can turn to two, two can turn to four … If you’re patient, progress will come!”