The New Year is upon us, and many people plan to reinvent themselves. Traditionally, New Year's is a time when everyone kicks off a new phase in their life and tries to make new goals that will benefit them and those around them. Whether that may be the cliche objective of losing weight or something unique like learning how to play the banjo and knit sweaters for loved ones. New Year's is when people worldwide put aside their questionable habits and attempt to change something about themselves.
However, it is also a stressful time for anyone to suddenly change their abilities and personality. Coming right out of the holiday season and stuck in that limbo before spring arrives and winter ends can be very unmotivating. It's also why most New Year resolutions fail, but there's a way you can prevent that from happening to you. Don't set yourself up for failure by making a huge goal you can't keep but instead, follow these 6 tips to help you effectively craft a New Year's revolution of your own.
Pick One Thing
It can be tempting to make multiple resolutions for yourself with the hope that you'll have the motivation to complete one of these goals. However, there are better ways to go. It's not easy to change your whole lifestyle at once.
Instead, take baby steps and change only one aspect of your life. Changing only one aspect of your life can be more effective than changing everything once since the key to completing a successful New Year's resolution is making sure it's concrete. If you succeed at one mini goal, move on to the next until you finish that one and keep the cycle going until you've successfully changed parts of your life by the end of the year.
Plan Ahead
Making New Year's resolutions isn't a cakewalk. Sticking to your resolutions is an even more challenging task. Don't wait until the last minute to make your New Year's resolutions to maximize your chance for success.
Try reading up on your resolutions in an article or book, or even watch youtube videos about your resolutions. The more research you do, the more likely you'll be excited about your resolutions and try even more challenges to upkeep your goals. You can even ask someone who's made and achieved similar goals that you want to achieve. Hearing their experiences can help inspire you to persevere and accomplish your resolutions.
Track Your Progress
Tracking your progress can be highly motivating since you see how far you've come. If you want to reassure yourself that you're going in the right direction and doing the right thing, try comparing a version of yourself at the start of your resolutions to an understanding of yourself during and after you've completed your goals.
If you wanna put in the extra work, you can make a spreadsheet or collage filled with photos throughout your journey so you can remember that you've done so much. Reviewing your progress can be a great motivator and strategy for those days when you feel your resolve is dying out.
Remember Your Past Failures
Many people make a New Year's resolution every year, and not everyone succeeds, and that's okay. Use those past experiences to push to avoid repeating the same mistakes and actually succeed in your resolutions. If you continuously make the same mistakes repeatedly, you can risk shaking your self-esteem and confidence.
If you want to avoid dealing with failure often, evaluate your past strategies and see what you can do differently. Be flexible with your experiences and be prepared to alter your goals. The more realistic and open you are with yourself, the easier it will be to identify what you need to change to make your goals tangible.
Get Support
I'm sure this is a cliche saying: "Lean on your friends! Get support when you need it!" However, that's because having a support system actually works. Having a buddy, family member, or partner with you during your journey can help you stay accountable and motivated.
Keeping someone with you can also make your journey more fun, and your resolution feels less like a chore and more like a fun goal to achieve. Explain your resolutions to your loved ones and ask them to help you achieve your objective. Even better, try to join a group of people who are looking to achieve the same resolutions as you.
If your resolution is to lose weight, join a group devoted to eating healthy and exercising. If you want to learn how to play an instrument, how to dance, or how to paint, then join clubs and organizations related to those interests that can help you achieve your goals.
Learn and Adapt
Experiencing a setback while trying to achieve your resolutions is normal, and you will sometimes feel discouraged. If you suddenly break your resolution momentarily or relapse into a bad habit, don't see it as a failure and give up. The path to reaching your goals isn't a straight road; there will be bumps along the way.
See those experiences as a way to learn and grow for next time, so you repeat the same mistakes again. Try keeping a resolution journal to track every detail of your resolution journey. You can write down important information about when the relapse occurred, what might have triggered it, and what you could have done differently next time. By understanding and analyzing your challenges, you will be better able to deal with them in the future.
The yearly tradition of making promises to yourself doesn't have to consist of constant disappointment. Success and failure can simply come down to making the right decision and going down the right path to achieve that objective. Always be kind to yourself because nobody is perfect and overcoming challenges is not always as easy as we all might think.
We're only human, and there is only so much we do to stick to our plans which is why you should celebrate all victories, big or small. Remember to cherish the moments you've spent working towards your goal because it's not about the end destination that matters. It's the journey. Good luck, and Happy New Year!!!
