NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

According to Forbes, research shows that nearly 80% of New Year's resolutions fail by February yearly.¹ So here are some tips to improve your chances of success. Start by asking yourself why you chose the resolution you made. A considerable part of the energy for achieving your new year's resolution or goal comes from the personal value it holds for you, your internal motivation to accomplish it, and how prepared you are for change. If your resolutions are because of something you saw on social media, something someone told you to do, or having a negative view of yourself, in that case, you will likely give up on them when obstacles arise or never even start them.

Some new year's resolutions are too vague. For example, someone could say, "my new year's resolution is to slim down," or "My new year's resolution is to become healthier." Ask yourself: What specifically do I want to accomplish? How will I measure my progress and know when I have reached my goal? How attainable is my goal? Is it something I can realistically accomplish? How relevant is my goal? And does it align with my values and passions? What is the time frame for starting and accomplishing my goal? After answering these questions, you should be able to write a goal statement that is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound. The resolution of wanting to "slim down" would now read something like "I will exercise for 30 minutes five days a week, restrict sweets to once a week to lose weight and improve my energy starting from January 6, 2023, to April 6, 2023. After these twelve weeks, I will re-evaluate my goals and adjust if needed until they gradually become lifestyle changes."

 Ask yourself “Why am I setting this goal"? “Where are my motivations coming from”? Your motivations should originate from the inside, something you desire for yourself that aligns with your values and purpose in life. Your incentives for achieving your new year’s resolutions should not come from some external source with a negative connotation, for example, social media comparison of how you stack up to someone else.When you have your action plan written down, share it with someone who will hold you accountable for implementing it. Identify obstacles that could stop you from achieving the resolutions you made. Ask yourself “what plans do I need to put in place to overcome those obstacles”? In the world we live in today, with people sharing so much on social media, it is hard not to compare your life to others. Doing this results in discouragement and depression for many.

 It is essential to have a personal definition of success. No matter what you decide success means to you, do not become so hung up by it that you cannot savor the small wins along the way. You do not have to be perfect to be successful. Start with finding contentment in being better or further along than you were yesterday regarding your progress. On days when you have setbacks, do not become discouraged. Take time to reevaluate what is important and connect with the people you love. Having a positive outlook is very important to achieving your goals. A positive outlook or perspective is taking a negative experience and finding a positive side to it.

Having a positive outlook will be one of my new year’s goals knowing that God is in control and the reason for my hope. Thank you for visiting my blog. I wish that 2023 starts as a blank slate on which you craft goals that are meaningful to you, and the desire to succeed grounded on the inside gains momentum.

References:

1. Stahl, A. (2021, December 9). This New Year’s Set Goals, Not Resolutions. Forbes. forbes.com/sites/ashleystahl/2021/12/09/this-new-years-set-goals-not-resolutions