How to Stick to Your New Year’s Resolution

In any given year according to multiple behavior experts, you’ve got anywhere from 30 to 90 days to make your resolutions become habit; that is if they haven’t already gone by the wayside.

In times like this, I like to incorporate “yoga off the mat” into my life.

I just fulfilled my intention of 100 days without sugar. I set it after eating waaaay too much gelato in Italy. Sugar is something I’ve claimed to be addicted to for years. There wasn’t a day that went by without a chunk of dark chocolate, a bowl of ice cream, or a handful of chocolate covered coconut–just because.

Before day 1 began, I couldn’t imagine life without celebratory cake, or ending dinner without dessert at my favorite restaurant. This wasn’t the first time I had made a pact with myself to stay off the sweet stuff.

The reason I believe I failed is because I would just loosely say I wasn’t going to eat sugar. The fact is, I didn’t fully commit 100%.

What was different this time? I incorporated my yoga skills of practicing mindfulness and I made eating sugar non-negotiable. There was no sugar eating happening–no matter what. No birthday cake, no holiday cookies and definitely no Sunday sundaes with my boys.

I didn’t have to make a split-second decision each time I was around something I normally would want “just a taste of”- it was always a no, so I didn’t waste energy debating it back and forth in my head.

I was mindful each time I encountered my Kryptonite and reminded myself of the non-negotiable status of our relationship.

Over the last few months I realized that when I was eating sugar daily, I was acting out of habit and living up to the label of “sugar addict” I had put upon myself–not always because I actually was craving it.

Maybe your “sugar” is your nightly glass of wine or two. Maybe you’ve been drinking it for so long you don’t even think about whether you really want it before you start pouring it. I’m not saying you need to give it up completely or even at all.

I’m just inviting you to think about what habits you may have that aren’t serving you, and how you might be able to play with making them non-negotiable for even just a few days to see how you feel without it.

This isn’t about deprivation at all- it’s about seeing what we do on a daily basis out of habit and then realizing that there are unhealthy habits we can change that will have a huge effect on our overall wellness.

The first step is being aware of what you might like to change, then it’s as simple to making it non-negotiable.

I promise, it’s actually much easier than just putting a goal out there and not really knowing how to reach it.

You might just surprise yourself and create new healthy habits in place of the old- and if not for nothing, you’ll prove to yourself that you don’t NEED anything to get through the day- it’s always a choice.
XO
Danielle

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