Tag Archive for: new year resolutions

How to Get Your New Year Resolutions Back on Track

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A few years ago I made what most would think a pretty simple resolution. I resolved to make the year about me. I was going to try to stop putting everyone else ahead of myself all of the time. I was going to get manicures when I wanted them, go to a movie once in a while, treat myself to new clothes, etc. Sound a little backwards? Well maybe for most, but for me it was a significant change. So much so that I still wasn’t able to follow through with it! I had the most selfish resolution in the world and I still wasn’t able to stick to it! So if you already broke your New Year’s Resolution on January 3rd, don’t worry; you’re not alone. Luckily a resolution is not about a specific day, it’s about you and your promise to yourself. You can still get your goals back on track with these helpful tips.

Tips to Get Your New Year Resolutions Back on Track:

  1. Reassess: Take a moment to really sit down and talk to yourself. Look within and determine how much youhow to get your new year resolutions back on track really want this and what you’re willing to do to get it.
  2. Make sure your goal is realistic: If you set an impossible goal for yourself you are more likely to become discouraged when things don’t work out as you hoped, and then give up on your goals. On the flipside, you don’t want to make things too easy either. Push yourself, but don’t go crazy!
  3. Split it up: Split your goal up into smaller goals. A resolution to lose 50 pounds can be quite daunting, but if you decide to lose 4-5 pounds a month it is much more doable.
  4. Reward yourself: Resolutions can often feel like a negative experience. Often people give up a lot to meet their resolutions, but 6 months later they are miserable. Even if you can’t have that pizza or your favorite ice cream, you can find other ways to reward yourself for a job well done. Get a manicure or a massage, plan a night out with some friends, or get a cute new workout shirt! Many people reward their kids for a good report card, but they forget to reward themselves.
  5. Buddy up: Sometimes you may need a support system, someone to challenge you, or just company in general. There’s a good chance that someone you know has a same or similar resolution. Especially if your goal is to lose weight or train for a run. Find someone else with a common goal, and help each other through it.
  6. Get started!: A body in motion tends to stay in motion. A body at rest tends to stay at rest. So put down the iPad or step away from your computer and get started! Go for a walk or a run, schedule that next event, or go clean the junk food out of your kitchen. There is no time like the present.

There you have it. 6 easy steps. Hopefully you’ll be back on track in no time. You can do it! J

Click here to read 5 Healthy New Year Resolutions.

New Year Resolutions

New Year Resolutions: 5 Steps to Promote Executive Functioning Skills

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New Year Resolutions and goal setting is an excellent way to foster executive functioning skills because it requires planning, organizing, managing time, and self reflection. What better time to set meaningful goals than the start of a new year?New Year Resolutions

5 steps to creating New Year Resolutions that also promote executive functioning skills:

  1. Set the foundation of the activity by reflecting on favorite moments or proud accomplishments of the previous year. Help your child think about and identify at least 3 milestones they achieved.
  2. Identify key areas that the child would like to improve upon in the upcoming year. Include both personal goals of the child as well as family goals. Goals should be specific, measurable, and attainable. For example, “I will complete a month-to-month 2014 family scrapbook by June 1, 2015.”
  3. Break down each of these goals into smaller, more achievable parts. (i.e., if a goal is to keep a scrapbook of the year, you’ll want to identify steps to achieve that goal such as creating an outline for the organization of the scrapbook, buying the supplies, keeping a memory box for pictures or other memorabilia, a schedule or timeline to create sections of the scrapbook, etc.)
  4. Make a plan to achieve each step! What do we need to do? When does it need to be done? Who will help and what is everyone’s responsibility?
  5. Celebrate accomplishments! Provide reinforcement with a progress chart, journal, or checklist. Discuss what will happen when a goal is achieved (small gift, family night out, trip to a favorite store, etc.)


Don’t stop setting goals! This is a great habit to keep year round. As goals are met, continue to create new ones!