Sticking to Your New Year's Resolutions: A Smart Strategy

Setting goals for the new year is easy, but sticking to them is hard. Many people make resolutions but give up quickly. One way to make your goals stick is by using cues.

What Are Cues?

Cues are triggers that help you remember to do something. For example, if you want to start exercising, you might tie it to an existing habit, like putting on your gym shoes right after work.

How Cues Work

Cues work because they create automatic processes in your brain. Think of it like Pavlov's dog, where a bell makes the dog salivate. In this case, your cue is the bell. Over time, you'll start doing the new habit without even thinking about it. But it takes a few weeks of practice to make it automatic.

Be Specific with Your Cues

To make cues work, you need to be specific. Instead of saying, "I want to eat healthier," say, "I will add 10 grams of protein to my diet every day." This makes your goal clear and easier to track.

Use the Pomodoro Technique

You can also use the Pomodoro technique, where you work for 25 minutes and then take a five-minute break. This can help you stay productive.

Set Reminders

Another way to use cues is by setting reminders. For example, if you want to call your mom more often, you might set a reminder to call her after the 6:00 news. This way, you're less likely to forget.

Set Yourself Up for Success

Remember, you need to set yourself up for success. If your cue is to go to the gym after work, make sure your gym shoes are packed in your bag.

Conclusion

Using cues can help you stick to your resolutions. It's a simple but effective strategy. But it's not just about setting the cue. You also need to make sure you can actually do the habit when the cue happens. For example, if you want to exercise in the morning, lay out your workout clothes the night before. This way, you're ready to go as soon as you wake up.