A lot of us make New Years resolutions like its something we need to be doing. If you are not one of those people, and you are able to accomplish things in life, way to go! Keep doing you. However, if you the type of person that needs the start of a calendar year to help you make changes in your life, then read on.
Know that even if you miss a few days in the New Year, you haven’t failed! No, this is the time your mind and body are taking to adjust to the change that is upon you.
1. Don’t Make them on New Year’s Eve
Yea, you know who you are!! The worst types of New Years resolutions are those made on New Years eve. Most of New Year eve resolutions are a result of being under the influence (bubbly, anyone?), peer-pressured, or even self-pressured. We all want to start the New Year as a better human. But, don’t do it.
You should have taken a few weeks or months to reason out why you want to make changes in the New Year.
So take some time to think through things you believe you will dedicate time and effort towards. These are pre-cursors to keeping that resolution when the clock strikes. Use a vision board to list out the goals you want to achieve. Pick one or a few things that can be accomplished. These should be something you have thought through for a while though. Again, no New Years eve resolutions!
Related: check this post on how to quickly create a vision board.
2. Bite-Size Resolutions
Make reasonable New Years resolutions for you and your lifestyle. If you do #1 above, then you have had time to think through it. So you know what is really important and how you will make time for it. However, the other important factor is to make sure the resolution is small or big enough for you.
If you plan to meditate 5 times a week, but have never meditated before, this resolution would be far-fetched. If meditation is something you are gung-ho on starting (and continuing), start with telling yourself to do it once a week.
Do it for as many weeks until it becomes a habit. The increase it to twice a week. Rinse and repeat or however else the math suits you. This way, you will get used to the idea of meditating before thinking about the number of times a week you have to do it.
Side note, if you want to meditate the right way with the right postures, read this post.
Okay back to business.
3. You and Only You
Up until recently, I kept hearing about the accountability buddy. Someone who makes sure you are on track with your goals. Honestly, that works in situations that truly need it. If you are making a resolution to become the best version of yourself, you should be accountable to yourself.
If you fall off, it’s only you that you have denied, or given up on. So again, do # 1 and #2 first. Whatever you chose to add to your life, needs to be something you truly desire to become part of your “new life”. And you desire it so much that you don’t need any one to make sure you are following through.
Someone who wants to truly make New Years resolutions to keep it, wouldn’t need an accountability buddy. Nothing wrong with it, but be accountable to you. You will get more accomplished that way.
4. Treat Yourself
I used to be so weirded out by the act of treating myself. I’d think of when my parents took me to the dentist when I was younger. They would take me for ice-cream after. That was my parents way treating me after every horrendous dentist visit. So the association was nonsensical to me.
However, I have come to realize that there are things (let’s call them things), in your subconscious and unconscious that respond to reinforcement. While your conscious may not understand treating one’s self, it is an act of love. This act of love is towards your mind and body for something well done. Do not deny yourself of being deserving.
If you are keeping up with your resolutions, vow to treat yourself to a movie. Or an ice-cream, every so often. As you enjoy your treat, remember why you are treating yourself. This will help the brain make the association stronger, and help you keep with your New Years resolutions.
5. Reflection
If you have followed the steps above, you will be proud of the little (or big) changes you have made for yourself. One thing to keep your resolutions going is to reflect on all those past times that you weren’t able to keep resolutions. And yet, this time you have or currently are doing it. Reflect on this and show gratitude to your mind and body for helping you along the way.
In Conclusion
If you fell off the wagon, or just missed a few days/sessions/whatever, just tell yourself it’s okay. Because poppet, it is. No one is perfect and everyone falls. You can dust yourself off, pick yourself up and try again. And realize, some studies say it takes anywhere from 18 days to 254 days to form a habit (source: Healthline.com). So until you’ve consistently done it for a while, show yourself some forgiveness and start again.
Happy New Year!
Featured photo courtesy of pexels.com
Article last updated on December 31st, 2021
