Keeping your New Year’s resolutions can be difficult. In fact, recent studies have shown that only eight percent of the population can keep the resolutions that they set for themselves. Experts agree that setting unrealistic goals and expectations for yourself is to blame. The problem isn’t the goal, it’s the type of goals you set and the misconception that it has to be all or nothing. In reality, setting and sticking to your resolutions is much easier if you choose smaller, incremental goals that are attainable. If you’re resolution is to train at a highly rated UFC gym in Raleigh in 2018, make the call to Gracie Raleigh today. You’ll be glad you did!

Sure, January 1 signifies a new beginning but so does February 1 or March 1. No one says you have to start all your resolutions at the same time or that you have to pick more than one. How do you choose resolutions you’ll stick to? Here are some tried and true ways to select resolutions you can live with.

Get Into the Details: Be focused on defining exactly what your goal is and how you will achieve it. Breaking a larger goal down into smaller and more manageable goals can help you feel like you’re making progress towards something big. When you have a plan and steps to follow you are more likely to reach your goal.

Tell Your Friends: Sharing your goal with your support system can help you follow through with your goals. Choose people who care about you and will ask how you’re progressing towards your goal. If you’ve fallen off track or gotten stuck, talk about it and make a plan to get back to your plan.

Forgive Yourself: When you slip up or get off track, forgive yourself and get back on track. Ask for help when you need it and be flexible about your methods. The ultimate goal is what matters, not the detours that occurred along the way.

Commit to 21 Days: Experts say that it takes 21 days to make something a habit and six months for it to be part of your personality. Track your progress and push yourself not to skip a day for 21 days. Once you’ve hit the 21-day mark, your new habit, thought pattern, or behavior will be like second nature.

See How Far You’ve Come: Tracking your progress in some way is important for sticking to your resolutions. If you can see progress, you’ll want to keep going. Whether it’s being junk food free or hitting the gym regularly, finding a way to measure your progress and ensuring you document it daily can help motivate you when things get hard.

Link Your Goals: When you create goals, have a two-step plan in mind. If you want to work on losing weight, consulting a nutritionist about your diet is a great start. Once you change your diet, you’ll have more energy because you’re eating better. Signing up for a martial arts class and getting regular exercise can help you healthily reach your weight loss goal.

Best UFC Gym in Raleigh for 2018

Gracie Raleigh welcomes all skill levels to our gym. From beginners to experienced martial arts practitioners, our staff is excited to work with you. We offer no contract martial arts classes for kids and special ladies only classes. Whether you’re looking to lose weight, improve your focus, or learn self-defense, we can help! Call or stop by our UFC gym in Raleigh today to see how adding martial arts to your life can help you reach your goals in 2018.