Making Realistic New Year’s Resolutions

This year has finally come to an end and the new year is right around the corner! It is usually the time where we begin to reflect on how 2017 was like for us and to create our resolutions and goals for the upcoming year. Most of the time, some people choose resolutions and goals that are geared towards becoming healthier or more active, making money, or changing a bad habit.

Of course these are great resolutions, but usually by the end of January they have already been forgotten or failed, and that is exactly what we don’t want to happen. It takes a lot of self control to commit to your resolutions throughout the year and it is important to also reflect on yourself and your lifestyle changes. To help create these resolutions and help making them more realistic enough so that they can stick throughout the year, here are some tips that can help you in the process of creating your resolutions:

Start with small resolutions. Create resolutions that are small enough to keep and that are practical. Try making your resolutions something that you know you can handle on your own.

Do one thing at a time. It is easier to commit to one resolution at a time, instead of trying to do all of your resolutions at once. Don’t get overwhelmed with a few different resolutions happening at once, try to do one at a time.

Share it with someone. Sharing your resolutions to your friends and/or family will help keep you on the right path, especially during the tough times. They can be that helping hand in making sure you don’t get tempted to fall behind.

Ask for support. It can be difficult to do certain things on your own while trying to commit to a lifestyle change. Don’t be afraid to ask for support from your friends and/or family. Also, if you feel that you cannot meet your resolutions on your own, seeking professional help is another option. They can offer strategies and tips to strengthen your resolution process for you so that you can manage them on your own.

As you begin to make your new year’s resolutions, it is great to follow some of  these tips to help you create your new goals and to encourage you to commit to them throughout 2018.

-Marram Salman

Resources

American Psychological Association, 2017.