So You've Already Failed at Your New Year's Resolutions

The beginning of the new year brings with it a clean slate and hope for a fresh start. It is often a time of goal-setting, resolutions, and changes. Yet, if you are anything like me, those resolutions sometimes to fall to the wayside around this time of year. Because of this tendency of mine, I have learned to set goals in a practical way that sets me up for success rather than failure. Here are a few tips to help you do the same!

• Reflect: Reflect on your year. What were the moments you want to remember forever? In what areas did you grow the most? Which parts of the year make you proud? How did you help yourself? How did you help others? What do you want to leave behind in the coming year? What do you want to move toward? Taking time to reflect helps to put into perspective the growth and change in ourselves that will shape the years to come.
• Be Realistic and Clear: A therapist once told me that in relationships, we must be clear and realistic about what we expect from others. I have found this to be true for the expectations I have for myself, too. Learning to be realistic is a game changer when setting goals for the future. Think practically about your life, and where there is room for change. Do you need to give something up to make room for the changes you want in your life? How will the new goal fit into your life practically? How can you pace yourself to avoid feeling overwhelmed by the alterations you are making in your life? Additionally, make sure your goals are clear and defined. Less defined goals are less likely to come to fruition. Breaking down a goal into smaller, defined objectives can make attaining our goal feel more attainable.
• Rally Support: Don’t be afraid to ask for help! We all need each other. Find a few friends you can lean on for support for those days when motivation feels lacking, and giving up feels easiest.
• Let yourself off the hook: Be patient with yourself. Inevitably, there will be setbacks, and our paths can often feel tangential and windy. Yet, I have found that the turns and bumps in the road often lead to greater self-discovery. Allow the setbacks to teach you about yourself. Give yourself permission to alter your goals as the journey toward them unfolds.

 
These practical goal-setting tips can be used at any point during the year- not just the beginning! Anytime is a good time to begin moving forward toward healthy lifestyle shifts.