New Year Problems: How to Finally Stay on Track
Ah, the new year. A time that many people set aside to set resolutions. Gyms that were once empty are now crowded with new fitness enthusiasts hoping to finally complete that same new year’s resolution that they have focused on every year for several years. Dating apps receive a surge of new romantics hoping to finally find the love of their lives. While setting a goal is important, and most of us desire to achieve such goals, it seems like more often than not we start the work with gusto to achieve that goal, then we stop.
Why do we stop, though? What happens to that motivation we once experienced that propelled us to continue to move towards our goal? If you want to stay on track with your goals this year, check out these tips.
Don’t pressure yourself to set a new year’s resolution (or to keep it if you already have). Sometimes there may be pressure to set a resolution-for example, your friends may be posting on social media their resolutions for the new year and you may feel left out if you do not post. However, often when we are motivated to do something else based on what peers may be doing, we find ourselves in the comparison trap and not actually achieving anything. So, I propose that you consider being a rebel this year and not setting up a resolution so that you can ensure that when you do set that goal, it will be for you.
Practice gratefulness. Often, resolutions stem from feelings of “not enough”. It may be that you made a lot of money last year, so this year you may feel the need to earn even more. You may have lost 10 pounds last year, so now the ante goes up to 20. Starting a goal from a space of scarcity makes it harder to continue to feed that motivation. This frame of thinking can set limits on how far you may feel like you are able to go and uses energy that could be used on actually achieving that goal. Instead, choose to take stock of what you have already accomplished. Count your blessings, no matter how small they may seem. When you choose this standpoint, it is easier to see opportunities that can help you reach your goal, instead of the barriers.
Just do it. Any day or moment is a good time to start working towards a goal. You don’t need a particular day to start working towards something that you want. Some things may take preparation, but there are always steps that can be taken at any point to help you achieve that goal. If you feel that there is something that you need to do to help yourself feel better, give yourself permission to explore and perhaps step out of your comfort zone. Maybe you have always wanted to be a runner but never knew how to begin. Start by walking on a regular basis. Research the stories of other people who are now runners to learn more about their journey. You will most likely find that you have at least one thing in common with those people, but you will need to start to discover that.
While no one knows what the year may hold for you, I hope that you will take the reigns of the new year by focusing on the new day that you experience and taking it step by step. We can certainly continue to look at the end goal, but remember to pay attention to those steps that you take along the way. You may find that you attain a new goal without even intentionally working on it, just because you are learning and growing.
Cheers to every moment that you take this year to make it the best one yet for you.
-Chante’