3, 2, 1, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
How many of you have heard or said this phrase in the last week? - "New year, new life!" . And how many of you have asked or answered the question: - "What are your resolutions for this new year?"
It is natural that this period when another year ends and a new one begins, we are driven to set new personal goals and challenges. And as we open the bottle of champagne and count down to the arrival of the new year, we mentally start listing our goals for the new year:
"- 5!! - I'm going to be healthier; 4!!! - I'm going to join the gym; 3!!! I'm going to work less hours; 2!!! I'm going to travel more, 1!!! I'm going to decrease the time I spend on social media, and… New year, new life!!!"
Wait, the year is new, but we are still the same!
The reality is that the vast majority have set their goals for the new year that has arrived, but very few will be able to achieve these goals. According to statistics, 80% of people will fail, or at least will not manage to keep these goals for more than a few months.
So what to do?
We can keep up our tradition of setting new goals and objectives for the new year, but we need to be mindful of what we set for ourselves. The reasons why most of us fail to achieve these goals are because they are unrealistic, because we naively believe that we can change overnight, because they are based on what we think others expect from us, because they are too vague and because we do not take our personal characteristics into account.
To change behaviour, we first have to make changes in the way we think.
Here are some ideas to retain that can help you stick (finally!) to your resolutions for your new year:
Write down your resolutions - it is essential that you write down your goals. Why? Because the likelihood of forgetting them is high. Because writing helps us have greater objectivity and will help us combat our (natural) resistance to change.
Prepare for change - Changing habits is no easy task, so before you jump in, stop, think and prepare. Reflect on why you want to change this habit.
Your goals should be specific - Try to set goals that are clear and concrete rather than vaguely saying "I want to be healthy". Define for yourself what it means to be healthy, for example "I want to exercise three times a week".
Your resolution should be measurable - keep track of your effort and how you are progressing.
Your goals should be realistic - don't try to take a step too far, start small. If you set yourself too demanding goals you will end up frustrated. And when you feel frustrated, your motivation is bound to decrease.
Your resolutions should be relevant - don't forget that you are setting goals that should reflect your needs, not what others expect.
Your resolutions should motivate you - they should be aligned with your values, your priorities, dreams and aspirations.
Share your resolutions with others - by sharing your goals with others, you will develop a greater sense of responsibility.
Don't be too hard or critical of yourself - remember, change is hard and requires a lot of effort, so if you struggle don't be self-critical. No one is perfect, but we are trying our best. Be understanding and empathetic with yourself and try again!
See you in a year to check our progress?