Why So Many People Make but Don't Keep Their Fitness and Finance Resolutions - and How to Keep Yours

When a new year arrives, many people make resolutions and claim they won’t break them. In reality, many do break their resolutions, but why is this the case? One of the biggest reasons we don’t stick to our resolutions is that we over-commit by making our resolutions unrealistic. Remember, when making your resolutions this year, you want them to be reasonable enough that you can actually stay true to them.

4 Tips to Help You Keep Your Financial Resolutions

1. Come Up With a Specific Plan 

Sit down and really think about what you want to achieve and how you can achieve it. Whether it’s fitness or financial goals, it all starts with a strategic plan. Set clear goals and a timeline for how you are going to achieve them. Starting with a plan helps hold you accountable. 

2. Enjoy the Process 

Who said that sticking to your resolutions can’t be enjoyable? Make it fun to stick to your plan! Find others to join you in your resolutions and make it an activity. Find friends to go to the gym with you or to make budget sheets together to help you stay true to your resolutions. Keep in mind your goals and why you chose your resolutions in the first place! 

3. Track Your Progress 

If you don’t keep up with how you are doing with your resolutions, you’ll likely lose touch with them and fall off the wagon. Keep a journal of how well you are doing with your resolutions. Not only will this help you reflect on how you have been feeling about your resolutions, but it will also help you hold yourself accountable. 

4. Look for Support 

Find a few trustworthy friends or family members who can help by holding you accountable. This is an essential part of keeping your resolutions. If friends and family see that you are struggling to stay true to your resolutions, they can interfere and help you get back on track so that you can achieve your goals. 

Despite popular belief, keeping your resolutions is possible. If you commit to sticking to them, you can do it! You’ll be surprised how easy it is to stick to them if you set up a strategic plan, make it fun, track how well you are doing, and get support from friends and family. Make this the first year that you prove to yourself that you can do it. Go to the gym as much as you said you would. Save as much as you claimed you would. Go do it! You’ll thank yourself later for sticking with it.