If you’re trying to get fit, stop smoking or cut down on the chocolate, there’s a good chance that you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to yourself.

If you really want to stick to yours this year, these 11 tips could help you keep them:

Change Your Mindset

The first thing you need to do is change your mindset. If your head is in the wrong place, you can’t expect to keep your resolution. Your mindset needs to be positive. You need to believe that you can do what you’re setting out to do. If you’re fearful, doubtful, or anywhere in that range of emotion, you’re unlikely to succeed. The key is to believe that you can do anything you set your mind to.

Find Ways To Monitor Your Progress

Find ways to monitor how well you’re doing. For example, if you want to quit smoking, put the money you would usually spend on cigarettes in a moneybox. You can then add this up over a certain period of time to see how much you’ve saved. If you want to get fitter, keep track of how well you’re doing on certain exercises. Write down form, weights and reps. This way you can easily track your progress which helps with providing motivation.

Reward Your Efforts

If you feel you’ve accomplished something wonderful, make sure you reward your efforts. The best way to do this is by pampering yourself, or going somewhere nice. Set yourself goals and come up with a reward for yourself once you’ve completed each goal.

Keep A Journal

By keeping a journal, you can note down your feelings about certain things. This could help you to notice the behaviour that trips you up or might make you break your resolution. When you realise you’re doing this, you can take the steps to stop doing it. Writing things down can help them to seem so much clearer.

Have Solid Reasons For Wanting To Change

When you have solid reasons for wanting to change, you’re far more likely to stick to your goals. Instead of losing weight to look different, why not do it for health reasons so you can live a healthier and longer life. There are so many great reasons you can come up with.

Make A Plan

By making a plan, you’ll be able to stick to your resolution much more effectively. Write down what you want to do, your smaller goals, bigger goals, and how you expect to achieve them. Keep this plan somewhere you can see it so that it stays fresh in your mind!

Keep It Realistic

Make sure you keep your new year’s resolution realistic, or you won’t stick to it. Be honest; are your goals realistic enough for you to stick to? You need to start off by taking small steps. Don’t run before you can walk! You can do anything you set your mind to, but you don’t want to dishearten yourself right from the start.

Find A Good Support Network

Having a good support network is a great idea. You’ll be able to speak to them when you’re feeling down or need some advice. They should be able to lift you up and encourage you to carry on! You can find support networks in your family and friends, but online too. Remember, there are all kinds of people going through exactly the same thing as you!

Be Kind To Yourself

There might be setbacks on your journey, but you have to realise that that’s ok. Beating yourself up will only make things worse. Accept what has happened and vow to keep on trying. Don’t let one setback make you give up on your goals!

Keep Yourself Accountable

There are a number of ways you can keep yourself accountable. You could check in with a friend, or find somebody who wants to do the same thing as you.

Be Patient

Results come in time. Be patient and enjoy the journey. You can be so proud of yourself when you’ve accomplished what you set out to do!

Sticking to your new year’s resolution is all about your mindset at first. Then use the other techniques outlined in this guide to smash your new year’s resolution. Good luck – you know you can do it!