5 Tips to Keep your New Year Resolutions

"Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right." - Oprah Winfrey

Happy New Year! We're almost a week into 2016 and we hope it's been going well so far! If you're like most of us, then you've either already made your New Year resolutions or are in the process of doing so. Cynics may say that a new year is no big deal, but like Oprah says, we believe it is a chance to start over! 

Setting goals and making resolutions is great; it gives your life direction and a sense of purpose, while helping you achieve everything you really want. However, statistics show that making resolutions is actually the easy part; sticking to them is not! Only about 8% of people stick to their resolutions for the whole year, with the majority abandoning them by July. But if you're determined not to be another statistic this year, then this post is for you! Here are 5 tips to help you stick to your resolutions, not just for January, but the whole year! 

5 Tips to Keep your New Year Resolutions

1. Break it Up

If you plan to lose 10 kg by the end of the year, just thinking of that massive number can be enough to discourage you! It also doesn't give you a clear plan to follow, and you can feel defeated when the scale moves very slowly. So break up your grand plans into smaller, doable steps. Plan to lose 1 or 2 kg a month, resolve to write 2 pages a day or set a goal to save Rs. 5000.00 every month for that foreign vacation. Smaller numbers will seem much more realistic and you are more likely to accomplish them.

2. Write down the Why

You've made your resolutions, but why are you doing it in the first place? Make sure that all your resolutions are aligned with your long term goals, so that you aren't wasting your time and effort fulfilling someone else's dream. Write down all the good things that will happen when you stick to your resolution and make another list of all the consequences if you don't. Keep this paper carefully; there will be many moments when you feel discouraged, but one look at this paper will remind you of why you started in the first place.

3. Have a Reliable Tracking System

Meeting your goals feels great, but the journey can be a little lonely. Have a buddy or a partner with whom you can share your resolutions and keep tabs on, so that both of you have someone you are accountable to. Even if you can't find anyone suitable, ensure that you have some way of tracking your progress, like an excel sheet or a calendar where you mark each day with an 'X' or something. There are many apps you can use as well, with one example being the MyFitnessPal app to track your food intake and exercise. 

4. Expect Disruptions

Life doesn't always go the way we expect it to, and you can expect many obstacles on your journey to achieving your goals. It's very easy to get derailed during such circumstances, and it can be very difficult to get back on track; in fact, many don't. Be aware that such situations can pop up, but promise yourself that you'll find a way through it without hurting your goals. When you adjust your mindset in this manner, you won't feel overwhelmed during stressful situations and are more likely to make your resolutions work somehow. After all, where there is a will, there is a way!

5. Include Rewards

The reward here refers to the proverbial carrot on a stick; something to look forward to as you complete each milestone towards your goal. Set small rewards at frequent intervals, so that you are constantly inspired and motivated to work towards your resolution. This way, the end goal will not seem so far off, and you'll actually be happy to do the work! Just make sure that the reward isn't counterproductive; no point rewarding yourself with an entire chocolate cake when you've worked all that weight off! 

Like we said, resolutions give you direction; but don't forget to enjoy life in the process. Waiting to be happy only when you achieve your goals is going to make you miserable, so seek out happiness in the small things of everyday life. Like Omar Khayyam said, 'Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.' All the best for your resolutions!

12 Picture Quotes for your Monday Motivation

When people talk of Mondays, they generally speak of it in negative terms. You'll find all kinds of memes and images talking about how you can't survive Monday without a bucket of coffee or how you just wish Monday was cancelled! 

Well we think that Monday is the best day of the week. It is a day of new beginnings, a day to wipe clean the slate and start over. And to make you feel the same and to inspire you throughout this week, we've got a collection of picture quotes here. So this time, we're skipping the words and letting the pictures speak!

12 Picture Quotes for your Monday Motivation

 

Now you can't possibly hate any day after you've scrolled through all those images! So everyone, prepare to start loving Mondays!

6 Ways to have a Productive Weekend

When most people hear of the word ‘weekend’, images of people lazing around come into mind. Of course, there are people who paint the town red on weekends, but we’re talking more about regular folks like you and us! Then there are those of us who take a break from our work week, only to work more on weekends - doing chores and running errands! Of course neither of these serve the true purpose of having a couple of days off, which is to rejuvenate and refresh yourself for the coming week. You could spend your entire Saturday and Sunday binge watching your favourite show, but that’s hardly productive, is it? So today, we tread the middle path and bring you 6 ways to have a productive weekend – yes it’s possible!

6 Ways to Have a Productive Weekend

Play a Sport

Whether you workout during your weekdays or not (you should, really!), playing an hour or two of any sport on the weekends really makes a big difference to your overall wellbeing. Besides the cardio workout, you get to play in a team, which is good socializing – minus the alcohol and heavy snacks!

Join a Class

Everyone has got that deep seated desire to learn something they’ve always wanted to since childhood. It could be dance, pottery or photography. Whatever it may be, what are you waiting for? Life is happening now; take control! Most classes of these sort operate on the weekends, so you’re sure to find something suitable for you in your locality. Learning a new skill builds new neural pathways in your brain, which makes you more effective at processing new information.

Explore your City

You could always pack your bags and head away, but you don’t have to. There are likely to be many undiscovered treasures within your city itself. Plan a one day field trip with your family and explore all the little known places in your city; the journey itself will be an adventure, and who knows, you might even discover a brand new spot!

Set up a Kitchen Garden

There are people who think of gardening as a messy chore, but the truth is that you’ll be hard pressed to find something more relaxing! Spending time with nature, touching and feeling the soil and leaves is very therapeutic, especially after a stressful work week. It feels good to reconnect with the real world after spending all that time online. Not to mention, you end up with healthy, pesticide free herbs and vegetables!

Assess your Life Goals

A weekend is a great time to just sit back and think: are you where you want to be in your life right now? Is your current lifestyle in sync with your goals? Think about where you’ll be in 5 or 10 years if you continue the way you are doing now, in terms of all aspects of your life – health, family, finances, career etc. You need to be relaxed and free from everyday stresses for this exercise, hence the weekend.

Prep for the Week Ahead

Yes, we know we said that doing chores during the weekend wasn’t fun, but rushing like crazy through the week isn’t very enjoyable either! Designate some time during the weekend, about 1-3 hours, to do all your prep work for the coming week. It could include ironing work/school clothes, chopping or freezing vegetables or meat, confirming appointments, getting anything ready for any event etc. Allotting just a specific time slot for these activities will give you a much more relaxed week and won’t feel like you’re spending your entire Saturday doing chores!!

Sleeping in till noon on weekends may sound good in theory, but in practice, it just throws off your entire body rhythm. It messes up your sleep and you feel groggy and weird. Being productive on the weekend without actually ‘working’ relaxes you, improves relationships and refreshes you for the next week. So, which of these are you planning to do this weekend? Do tell us!!