Happy New Year! Have you set your new year’s resolutions yet?
For many of us, January 1st represents a time to “start fresh”. This is when we feel motivated and empowered to change old habits or start new things. We feel the energy and excitement that a new beginning brings and dive in full force!
But, let me ask you this. How successful are you at achieving your resolutions? Research shows that only 9% of us manage to stick to our resolutions. While there are a number of reasons for this, one explanation lies in the type of resolutions we set.
Here are some things to think about as you set new intentions for 2024:
- Is there something you really want to change or are you simply setting new year’s resolutions because of tradition and because everyone else is talking about their new resolutions? There needs to be something we truly want to change and something that is impacting us in a negative way for us to be motivated to change our behaviors and see the benefits of change.
- If there are things you would like to change, take some time to reflect on the past year. In the last tip & tool post, you were encouraged to reflect on highlights, lowlights and moments of growth of 2023. I mentioned that you would have time in the new year to work on things that need improvement. Now is your chance. Here are some prompts to get you started in your reflection.
- What are some obstacles you encountered this year?
- What were some of the barriers you faced when trying to overcome these obstacles?
- Are there things you’ve been wanting to work on but have postponed/been afraid of?
- Set SMART resolutions. Goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timebound have been proven to be more effective. Refer back to the October 30th, 2023 tip by guest author Abby Chambers for guidance on how to set setting smart goals.
Setting new year’s resolutions is not a bad thing. However, I encourage you to be intentional about the goals you are setting.
Source: Perseverance with New Year’s resolutions in the U.S. 2019 | Statista
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