New Year's Resolutions
With 2022 behind us, it’s time to look forward into the new year and think about what we want to prioritise. Every year it feels like we experience the same discouraging cycle: We make goals for ourselves, commit for a short amount of time, and then revert into our old, trusted habits. What differentiates the people that stick to their new lifestyle from those that don’t? While there isn’t one magic procedure, there are some key habits to consider that can play a big part in fulfilling those goals.
It might be self-explanatory, but the first step to accomplish your goals is to make them. Think about what’s most important to you and something that on December 31st, 2023, you’d be proud to say you accomplished in the past year. These can range from big. Long-term goals like buying your first car, to the smaller day-to-day goals like drinking more water. Make a rough list on your phone, computer, or just some good old-fashioned pen and paper. As you’re making these goals, try to avoid making generalisations. Instead, try to be specific with what you want. For example, if you want to exercise more, tailor that to your specific goals. Maybe you want to be able to run 2 miles in fifteen minutes or you’d like to be able to do fifty consecutive push-ups. Create a tangible goal that can be reached, it will make sticking to it and seeing progress a whole lot easier.
Once you know what you want to focus on in the new year, it’s time to start planning the steps that will get you to that point. This is the part a lot of people tend to miss. It’s one thing to say you want to be healthier, it’s another to sit down and create a weekly meal plan so that you can achieve the level of health you desire. Because you’ve specified your goals in the first step, creating a game plan should be a lot easier. Similarly, it can be helpful to schedule checkpoints throughout the year to see how far you’ve come and celebrate your progress. On the same strand, it’s okay if you aren’t progressing the speed you want or originally thought you would. There will always be instances that we have no control over and will affect our plans. It’s okay! Do what you can and celebrate even the seemingly small progressions.
As you make your way through 2023, try not to compare yourselves to others around you. It can be discouraging if you feel others are accomplishing their goals before you or are having an easier time. The truth is, everybody is working to better themselves and what they present to you, others, and social media isn’t always a representation of where they are. Support yourself and others on their journeys and try not to compare the two.
The new year is a great time to reflect on where you are currently and where you hope to be so make some goals and start accomplishing them! Have a great 2023, You’ve got this!
