Re-Energizing New Year’s Resolutions
by Dr Stephanie Smith
It’s been a couple of months since January 1. How are those New Year’s resolutions going? Do you even remember what they were? If you’re like me, some years are better than others when it comes to achieving the goals I set in front of myself at the start of the year. We came up with tips for Re-Energizing Your New Year’s Resolutions and to help get you back on track!
It’s just so darn easy to formulate big, lofty goals ahead of the new year. Everyone’s doing it! All the gyms are having specials! All the cookbooks are on sale! And this year, Ms. Tidying Up herself, Marie Kondo inspired us all to “spark joy!” by decluttering our homes and folding clothes into cute little boxes. The possibilities for useful New Year’s resolutions were endless!
Here we are in the thick of winter, and what’s happened to all that enthusiasm?
Maybe you’re still right on track to achieve the change you set out to achieve. But if you’re like most people, you’ve struggled to keep up the enthusiasm and spirit of growth you had on January 1st. I’m here to tell you that it’s okay, all is not lost! In fact, this time of year can be a great time to get back on the resolution wagon.
As I mentioned above, it can seem like everyone sets goals around the new year. All the celebrities, magazines and social media outlets tell us we should, too. Not only that, but these sources also have about a zillion ideas about what our resolutions should be. The momentum can be great, but it can quickly fade as the enthusiasm for change wanes as January winds down.
A few of these tips for re-energizing New Year’s Resolutions will help you and your family now and for the rest of the year!
Re-energizing Your New Year’s Resolutions
Tip #1: Reflect on what you really want to accomplish
Instead of riding the resolution tide in January, it can actually be more effective to set your own, unique goals after some reflection a few weeks or months into the year. Do you really want to lose weight, or would it be more meaningful to set a goal of dancing in your kitchen more? Do you really want to declutter your house, or would a more useful goal be reading more books, calling your friends more frequently or finally making concrete plans for that summer vacation?
Tip #2: Make your goals attainable
Once we set goals that have personal use and meaning (as opposed to what the media tells us we “should” focus on), it’s a good idea to make sure they’re attainable (like, actually possible for you as you are) and measurable (think: “I’m going to increase my daily steps from 7000 to 9000” as opposed to “I’m going to walk more”).
New Year’s resolutions should be realistic. When a resolution is unrealistic it’s likely it won’t be achieved. Think about what is attainable and what isn’t. For example, perhaps it’s not possible to lose 100 pounds this year, but 30 pounds is a more practical goal.
Tip #3: Ask yourself if you are accomplishing your goals
If you do still feel committed to the goals you set on January 1st, is there a way to renew your efforts to get them accomplished? Are the changes you made working? Do you need to try something new? Is there a way to tweak your goal to make it more do-able? Is it time to reach out and ask someone for help in accomplishing it? Here are some tips to making changes that last.
Tip #4: Know your limits
If you’ve simply run out of energy and motivation to set a resolution this year, that’s okay too! Believe it or not, there is no law that says you have to. Recognizing when we have (or don’t have) the mental, emotional and physical energy to enact change is a key piece of effective resolution planning.
Tip #5: Discover What Triggers a Bad Habit
Usually bad habits are linked to certain triggers. Just be being aware of a trigger can help stop a negative behavior.
Ignoring a trigger to “fall off the wagon” can give confidence the next time a temptation is encountered. Rather than just ignore a trigger to overeat, it’s even better to channel a behavior in a positive direction such as taking a walk or enjoying a favorite hobby.
Happy not-so-new year!
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Great ideas!