Happy New Year!! (I’m not sure when it gets too late in the month to say that?)
2022 is finally in full swing, and inevitably…New Year brings New Year’s resolutions. While I can certainly see the benefit. I must admit, I have a love-hate relationship with them. So, let’s talk about both the pros, and cons of these New Year’s Resolutions…
I think we can all agree that the feeling of starting the year afresh with a new-found positive attitude and gym membership gives us a strong sense of purpose and motivation. Writing down a list of all the things we want to achieve throughout the year can give us extra focus and clarity. Whether it be to eat healthier, get fitter, read more, start meditation, pick up a guitar or learn a new language. Our ‘New Year, New Me’ could be just around the corner! There’s no arguing that these lists can be beneficial. However, they can be both a help and a hindrance.
Once goals are set, the pressure can mount up to see them all through. If we miss a gym session after a bad night’s sleep, or didn’t have time to read the first few pages of that shiny new book sitting on the shelf. We can start to feel as if we are already falling at the first hurdle. Mounting pressure can then lead to further bad nights and stress, making the cycle worse. We could even still be working on resolutions from past years. It can all add up.
New Year’s Resolutions can be a great way to motivate yourself for the coming months, but they can also put added pressure on our already busy lives. Therefore, they should be used as one of any number of tools in the box. Not something we can end up punishing ourselves for.
Let’s think…New Year…improved me, instead!
If you’re looking to make some New Year’s Resolutions in 2022. Try to keep them achievable, and don’t be disheartened if it all doesn’t click right away. Consistency is key, but taking days off to recharge without feeling guilty about it, is just as important. Everyone needs a break every so often.
One way to make resolutions a bit more digestible is to use the SMART approach:
Specific – What it is exactly, that I would like to achieve?
Measurable – Monitor progress. What is the start and finish point?
Achievable – Is this goal achievable for me?
Relevant – Why is this goal important to me?
Time Bound – When do I want to achieve this goal by?
Writing down your SMART goals can help keep you accountable, as well as helping you see the smaller steps that need to be taken to achieve the final outcome.
Good luck to everyone for 2022, let’s smash it! Or…spend the day in bed eating pizza and chocolate. (It’s called balance.)
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