At the start of a new year, many of us make new years resolutions. Often though these resolutions are the same ones we’ve made each year but we say to ourselves that this year is finally going to be the year we’ll succeed. We perhaps join that gym (again!), start that diet, dust off our Spanish books ….. but mostly our resolve falls by the wayside and we feel disheartened once again by our lack of willpower.
There are many reasons why this happens:
- Our goals are not ones we feel strongly enough about. Perhaps they are things we feel we ‘should’ do.
- Our goals are too big and not specific enough. The desire to get fit, for example. We need to pin it down to how, when, where, how much, etc.
- We’re not in the right mindset for it right now. Maybe we need to pick a time when we’re feeling stronger & more positive. It doesn’t have to be January.
- We don’t make ourselves accountable. If we share what we intend to do with others, share the goal even, make the journey together, it can motivate us.
Have any of you done Dry January? The reason many achieve this is because it’s just for a month. But the interesting thing is many continue with their good habits into February and beyond, or at least drink less.
So how about setting yourself a goal a month? But make sure it’s something YOU want to do, that it’s achievable and you’re specific about how you’re going to go about it. And don’t beat yourself up if you fail. If it’s important to you, reset your goal for another time and see what you can do to help yourself this time, for example enlisting a buddy.
If you need any help to make changes in 2024, please get in touch. In the meantime, how about setting an intention for the year ahead?
Mine is: EASE