Some Thoughts about New Years Resolutions
The start of a new year is a common time to reflect and set intentions for yourself. I wanted to share some thoughts on effective strategies for setting intentions.
1) Get specific with the goal and the value(s) behind the goal. For example, a lot of people decide to cut back on alcohol in the New Year. Dry January is a trendy thing right now and a lot of people are getting more sober-curious. If you want to cut back on alcohol- great, but why? Try to identify the values behind the goal or intention. For this example, values could include physical and/or mental health benefits, saving money, or finding different ways to connect with your friends. Identifying the values behind the goal/intention/resolution will help you stay focused on what is important. Creating SMART goals is a way to make sure you clearly define the goal and know whether or not you are achieving it.
2) Remember that developing new habits takes time. Shifting engrained behavior patterns does not come easy and will take more self-discipline in the beginning. Consider ways to implement some accountability.
a. Share your goal/intention with others. I am a firm believer that sharing your goals with others creates more personal accountability and can lead to more success.
b. On a similar note, try to find someone that has the same goals to be accountability buddies. If your goal is to go to the gym more, find a gym buddy!
3) Remember that growth is rarely linear and there will be setbacks. If you fall short of a goal early on, don’t give up! A lot of people cancel their new gym memberships after only a month. If you miss a day (or week) in the gym or decide to have an alcoholic drink (or whatever the goal is), that doesn’t mean you have failed. Remember the value(s) behind the goal and start again the next day. Getting back to SMART goals, it may be a good time to reassess the goal. Is it still feeling attainable or do you need to modify the goal in some way?
4) Find a mantra. Staying committed to your goals is hard work, so finding an effective mantra can be helpful for some. “Change takes time and sustained effort” is a phrase that a former colleague of mine used to say. “I can do hard things” is another that I often remind myself of. Find a mantra that is true to you and write it on your bathroom mirror with a dry erase marker.
5) Finally, remember to acknowledge how far you’ve come. It seems like the last few years have been trying times on almost everyone I know. Acknowledge all of the growth you’ve achieved over the last year and if your current intentions are to just keep up the progress you’ve made, great! No need to compare your goals/resolutions to anyone else. If you are proud of where you are in life and want to keep doing what you’re currently doing, that is also something to celebrate.
What tips do you have for setting goals in the new year? Feel free to let us know on our Social Media platforms!
