4 Ways to a “New Year, New Me”
It’s about to be the New Year so time for New Year’s Resolutions! As December rolls into January many of us have the thought, “New Year, New Me.” Resolutions can vary from learning a new language, becoming healthier, being social, being organized - the list can go on. When there is excitement in writing your New Year’s resolutions there is also the counterpoint of falling short of those goals. It is not uncommon for people to set themselves up with the same resolutions from previous years and experience the same outcomes again and again.
What makes these resolutions difficult is that they are just like life goals. Is there a hidden method of success? What is the easiest way to reach the New Year goal? While there is not a magic wand to create the “new you” immediately, there are things that can make or break your New Year’s resolutions. New Year Resolutions are often far from our daily routine which can be comfortable. We are creatures of habit that like to stick to what is comfortable rather than doing something new. Even if the discomfort is for positive change we are more than likely to revert back to our norms over time. If you feel as though consistency is a difficult hurdle for you, here are four ideas that could help you:
1.Mindset of Growth
The first thing to think about is how we approach things. Before we even start making our New Year Resolutions we have to consider how we approach them. We often envision our New Year Resolutions to be drastic changes from where we are to where we want to be. Having a clear resolution isn’t the issue as it can help better shape our behaviors. It is how we carry ourselves throughout this process that will matter. What you tell yourself and how you take care of yourself day after day will largely impact your ability to continue your New Year Resolutions. Keeping in mind the New Year Resolutions that you have made for yourself will take time and it is not something that should be rushed when it is a big change you want to make. A mindset of growth, rather than pure success, can greatly influence your consistency to continue such changes.
Let’s use the example of going to the gym: the goal is to go at least four times during the week and you managed to go twice. You can be purely success oriented, distraught that you “only” went twice instead of the planned four times. This is a harsher evaluation, ignoring the effort of going, and setting a discouraging tone towards your development. In a mindset of growth we look at the progress we made in the week. A recognition of going to the gym two times this week, acknowledging our own efforts towards our New Year Resolutions, and focusing on the positive progress made.
2. Strategize
The second thing to consider is how we strategize our New Year’s resolution. Again, we often focus on the end results that we forget it will take some time to reach our goals. The key in strategizing for success is to make small manageable steps towards the progress that you want. Make the steps as short time progressive goals (e.g. monthly, weekly, or daily). For example a New Year’s resolution can be to eat healthier, a weekly goal can be to eat a side of vegetables three times a week with one of your meals of the first month. Your progressive goals should be achievable and realistically possible.
Another way to set progressive goals is to add them as part of your daily routine. Something that you can do that slightly adds to your normal routine. If your goal is to be healthier then you can add a small change to your routine like parking further away from stores for an added three minute walk or subtract soda from a meal that you would regularly have.The idea is to engage in manageable actions that align with your New Year’s resolution. Making small changes that are not as uncomfortable can help you stay consistent with your other progressive goals.
3.Mark Progress
The third thing to consider is to mark the progress you make throughout the year. As time goes on life can become messy and it can make it difficult to remember what you have done. It happens to all of us that we lose track of time during the weeks. This can ultimately make us lose focus of our New Year’s resolutions which we set for ourselves. Logging progress with our New Year’s resolutions will help remind us what we are doing. Some ways to track your progress can be in the form of:
Having a physical calendar
An app through your phone or computer
Journaling
Marking small steps that will lead up to your goal will provide a form of accountability and evidence of your New Year’s resolution. This helps you see the progress you have made and maintains your focus on your progressive goals.
4.Accountability Buddy
The final thing to consider is to reach out to others to help with your New Year’s resolution. Brainstorming with others can introduce new ideas that you would not have thought of. Speaking with other people who have experienced the goal you are intending to do can provide some insight on how to achieve that New Year’s resolution. Attempting to do something different is difficult enough, it would be beneficial to have someone else that could help in this process. People working on their New Year’s resolution goals by themselves easily make excuses to not be consistent with their progressive goals. There will be days where you, “just don’t feel like doing it”. Having a trusted friend can help motivate and keep you accountable for those resolutions. If your accountability buddy has the same resolutions then all the merrier to progress together.
Roubicek & Thacker Counseling is Fresno’s premier provider of individual, couples, family, and group therapy. We offer in-person and online remote therapy sessions. Contact us today to change the way you feel.