New Year, New You?
It’s a new year, but is it really a new you? Think about it, are you different from the you a year ago? Did you achieve your goal? Did you get healthier? Did you start that business? Did you go to that country you’ve been dreaming of?
Setting new goals for the new year isn’t a new concept. Our brains like new beginnings so it’s an easy idea to get behind. Plus, our society basically shoves “clean slates” and “new starts” down our throats the last few days of the year.
I spent so many years trying (and failing) to set New Year’s Resolutions. Now when I look back on it, I’m so frustrated with how much time I spent upset and disappointed that I didn’t “achieve my goals”, but what I’d tell my younger self if I could go back right now is that those weren’t goals. They were aspirations. They were wishes.
When we set resolutions, what we’re doing is setting expectations, but we’re looking at the end results. When you make a resolution to lose weight, you’re picturing yourself after you’ve lost all the weight. When you make a resolution to start a business, you’re picturing yourself sitting in your office managing a successful business.
I’m all for visualization. The mistake we make is that we’re completely ignoring the middle…the journey; the place where the hard work gets done.
This is why most resolutions get thrown to the wayside before spring even arrives. It’s all the rage to set resolutions, but when the realism of what it takes to make lasting change asserts itself, most of us aren’t ready or willing to embrace that; the hype dies and so do our resolutions.
So how do we make resolutions stick?
Plan - Don’t stop making resolutions, but you must have a plan. You can’t just go into this with hope. You must have actionable steps, be able to track them, and then allow yourself to make adjustments. You’re feeling motivated now, but when you don’t (and trust me, a time will come when you don’t), what are the steps you will continue to do?
Make It A Lifestyle Change - This is about progress not perfection. Creating new habits takes time and energy. It is not automatic and it won’t happen overnight, so build a routine. We make time for the things that matter to us, so if this truly matters, then schedule it. Put it on your calendar and commit to it. Over time, you’ll find it’s easier to keep choosing that thing.
Practice Gratitude And Forgiveness - Quit the “all or nothing” mentality. If you’ve resolved to stop smoking, and you have a cigarette because work was stressful one week, get up, dust yourself off, and continue on. You’re human. You’re going to make mistakes, you’re going to trip up, but understand that any effort toward your goal is better than none at all. Be thankful for what you can (and have already done). Give yourself a little grace for the slip up, and forge ahead. Resiliency is key to your success.
It’s time we reframe those resolutions.
How about “New Year, New Workout Plan” because you will always be exercising; it’s now part of your lifestyle, but in the new year, maybe you change up the type of exercises you’re doing.
“New Year, New Country” because you’re a traveler, that’s who you are at heart, so the only thing that will change this year, is which country you’ve decided you’re going to.
“New Year, New Habits” because you’re committed to living healthier, so instead of smoking, you’ll walk more; instead of drinking, you’ll get more sleep, and instead of binging television, you’ll read more.
