10 Ways to Motivate Yourself to Achieve Your Wellness Resolutions
Jan 06, 2025
Setting a goal is the first step to change your life. Once you know what you’re going to achieve, you must maintain the focus to accomplish it. Check out a few ways to remain motivated as you work toward your wellness resolutions this year. You may stay on track more easily if you give yourself a helping hand.
1. Write a Daily Journal Entry
Journaling can be a powerful tool if you maintain the new habit for the long term. People who complete entries with prompts encouraging them to reflect on what’s going well get influential positive reinforcement even while working on something as challenging as staying newly sober.
Write about your daily progress or successes to maintain your motivation this year. You could use a physical journal, a document on your computer or an app. Whatever feels least complicated will make journaling more enjoyable for you.
2. Find an Accountability Partner
Isolation can feel overwhelming. If discouraging thoughts are your most significant challenge, find an accountability partner. You can contact them to discuss your wellness resolution progress or what’s holding you back. Even if they don’t have a solution, talking to someone who understands might be the support you need to achieve your intentions.
3. Use a Symbol
Finding a symbol that resonates with you can be a visual source of inspiration. Think about what kind of motivation you need, and do some research to find a symbol that represents that.
For example, turtles symbolize persistence and patience, as they can travel up to 12,000 miles and endure long journeys. If you feel like your goals are far away and you’re facing discouragement, keeping a turtle icon in your home or office can remind you to keep moving forward.
4. Make a Plan for Setbacks
Even the most motivated people eventually encounter something that delays their goals. Sometimes, life gets in your way. If your resolution is to get more sleep, but family emergencies or a change in your work schedule interfere, you might feel discouraged enough to start all over. Make a plan for similar setbacks so you can keep your head high.
Reflecting on your progress, recognizing how to handle things differently next time or repeating positive affirmations to be gentle with yourself could help you overcome unexpected obstacles along your wellness journey. It depends on what motivates you the most for your specific goal.
5. Read About Others Making the Same Changes
Your resolution is unique to your needs, but that doesn’t mean others haven’t been in your shoes. Find books written by people who worked toward similar objectives. If you dive into their successes and mistakes, you might manage your own because you’ll have a better frame of mind. You may even turn it into a profitable hobby since readers can make $5-$100 for book reviews, audio readings and even video critiques.
6. Join a Community With Similar Goals
Imagine that your wellness goal requires walking an extra 15 minutes daily. If you feel alone and don’t want an accountability partner, join a community trying to achieve the same resolution. You could find a local walking club to make friends or post on social media communities about your shared experiences. It may revitalize your energy as the year progresses.
7. Check in With Professionals
Some personal growth aspirations centered on your well-being will be solitary activities. Following a new evening skin care routine doesn’t require a professional’s assistance. Still, checking in with someone trained in your wellness journey may improve your motivation because you’ll get their encouragement.
You might visit your doctor once every other month for bloodwork to see if your new diet positively affects your cholesterol levels like you want. Maybe a monthly meeting at a nutritionist’s office is what you need to stay motivated while choosing sparkling water over soda.
As you consider these optional resources, prepare for the financial implications of visiting an expert for encouragement. Appointment fees are a common barrier for people accessing professional support. Talking to a therapist about what’s holding you back could help you, but the average therapy session costs $100-$200 without health insurance. Look for experts who offer sliding scale payments to make appointments more affordable if you think you’d benefit from a licensed professional’s advice.
8. Treat Yourself to Rewards
It’s fun to imagine how great you’ll feel once you achieve your wellness resolution. While you should daydream about it to stay motivated, it’s also important to celebrate your small wins. Reward yourself as you complete each step along the way. If you’re getting positive reinforcement for the little things, you could become less likely to lose sight of your progress.
The key is choosing rewards that don’t work against your goals. If you’re trying to stay hydrated, rewarding yourself with a dehydrating hard beverage might not align with your intentions. Instead, talk to your best friend or take yourself to a new movie. It depends on your specific resolution and what feels celebratory for you.
9. Invest in Wellness Tools
Technological advancements can make objectives easier to achieve. They can even help with resolutions related to your well-being. If you’re trying to track steps, a smartwatch may provide a more accurate count.
Wearing something that provides real-time data may increase your wellness through self-awareness you wouldn’t have otherwise. It’s worth exploring if it’s financially feasible for your current budget. Internet-connected clothing or a smart ring could supplement your experience so you always have motivational data charting your progress.
10. Celebrate With Other People
Celebrating every win is vital, but you might only want to do that if loved ones cheer you on. Ask your friends and family members to hang out at your place or meet you for a meal when you accomplish something. Receiving praise from people you adore may be the best motivational boost you could get. It can make your achievements feel real compared to celebrating them alone at home.
Turn Your Wellness Resolutions Into Reality
Setting a goal is a great way to transform your well-being, and maintaining your motivation is the key to making it happen. Use one or two simple strategies to encourage yourself along the way. Even if you interchange your motivational efforts every month, you might have a better experience because you’re combining your goal with a support system.