Ladies and gents, it's that time of the year. The time when we begin to look back on all the things we have accomplished while we prepare for the future. 2020 seems like a huge deal to a lot of people and of all years to prep for a new year, this is the one. The one that starts a new decade. 2020 brings an added "umph" to the phrase, "a new beginning." For many of us this year has the possibility to set the stage for our entire decade, and we want to do it RIGHT.
With new beginnings and new years, come—you said it—NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS! Although we all like to set goals for ourselves this time of year, we want to make sure that these goals are attainable and don't lead to burn out, anxiety and feelings of inadequacy. The best way to remove those negative feelings or the possibility of them is to be kind to ourselves by creating realistic resolutions. Here are a few tips to get started.
Review Your Year
There is nothing like a review of your year to help you find out your goals for the year to come. The week between Christmas and New Year's always seems like a blur. Consider taking the time to review your accomplishments during the downtime. Create a list month by month and document your successes in addition to the things you want to work on. This is a great way to dig into the last year and remember all of the great things you have accomplished, while being able to see what areas need a little more work. This can help give you an outline of the life you have currently created for yourself and will also help you frame the life you want to live.
Think of the Life You Want to Live
Everyone has a vision of where they want to be. Setting the proper goals to make this happen is the absolute best way to create the life you have been envisioning. Think of your financial life; what things would you like to accomplish with your finances? What are the things that need to be set in place in order for your plans to become reality? Of those things, make small, attainable goals that can propel your dreams into reality. Small goals create great lives over time.
Push Yourself, but Listen to Your Heart, Mind + Body
This time of the year can be overwhelming. Fresh starts really can be exciting, but they can also become daunting if kindness is not practiced. Remember, big goals and huge life changes happen first with small steps. If you are looking to live a healthier lifestyle, a suggestion is to not cut out all the unhealthy things, cold turkey. This method could lead to unnecessary stress and quick failure or disappointment, which could lead to feelings of inadequacy. Another way you could go about your health and fitness goals is to cut one thing out at a time. Once you're able to have a hold on one change, you can add another and another until you have a complete resolve of a healthier, more fit lifestyle.
I get it; we all want to be better versions of ourselves, and the New Year can really make us feel forced into radical changes. Just know that the radical changes you see in others always start with small steps. Don't let the glory of a huge change in others allow you to forget the struggle and discipline that came with it. If you keep these things in mind, you'll be well on your way to a more successful and fulfilling life.
Happy New Year!!