By Gabby Paul, @deca.gabby | Stoughton High School, MA
As we begin February, many New Year’s Resolutions fade into wistful aspirations instead of life-changing habits. Where motivation comes and goes, consistency is key to success. Here are some of my favorite tips for keeping consistent when the New Year’s sparkle wears off.
Have an Attainable Goal
Everyone wants their routines and self-improvement journeys to be polished and perfect, but that’s just not realistic or attainable. When deciding which goals you want to achieve, make sure they are realistic.
For example, instead of saying that you’re going to exercise every day, say you’ll exercise 3 times a week. This way, it will be easier to stick to your goal without the task seeming daunting and unachievable.
Welcome Mistakes
When you reach your first roadblock and you don’t fully achieve your goal, it’s very easy to give up and forget about the goal. Your progress will not always be perfect, and it’s often easier to stay consistent if you accept small wins as opposed to an all-or-nothing mindset.
If you have a goal to get an A+ in a challenging class that you currently have a B- in, you can take every imperfect grade that gets you closer to an A+; it should be a win, not a failure.
Track Your Progress Visually
Investing in a habit tracker is a great way to see your progress and track milestones. Seeing your growth through a habit tracker is a great motivator to keep pushing and growing! In addition, it serves as a reminder of how far you’ve come toward your goals.
Have an Accountability Partner
Having a trustworthy supporter who will hold you accountable is another great way to foster consistency. It also ups the stakes of your goals by adding someone else to your commitment. I find it easier to persevere through goals when I am achieving them with a friend by my side.
Habit Stacking
Habit stacking is a highly effective way to develop new habits that align with your goals! The principle is that you take an existing habit and add your new habit to it, so it is easier to adapt to.
For example, if you want to practice mindfulness in the morning, you could habit-stack by pairing breathing exercises with making your bed.
