January First is the day it begins. That day where I will (fill space here) this year…. whether its spend less money, eat better, workout more, do better in school … These resolutions seem to disappear by Spring — but why? We put so much pressure on ourselves to be a better person that we sometimes forget to acknowledge our triumphs in the past. There is always room for improvement, but how can we work towards our goals 365 days a year without burning out? Here are a few tips to help you as a student, a son, daughter, a friend, etc. can cater your resolutions to your lifestyle.
1. Ditch the idea of “Resolution.”
This title is so formal! It seems much less daunting to name them “goals” or “challenges.” By looking at them this way, you are no longer giving yourself an ultimatum; it is something you are simply looking forward to accomplishing.
2. January First is not the only time to form your goals!
The first day of the new year is a time many individuals resolve to do things. What is wrong with the other 364 days of the year? Remember, there is no “right” or “wrong” time to initiate change.
3. If you did make those resolutions on January First, take a look again…
As we are now into February, are you still following your resolutions? Is this goal impacting other areas of your life? For example, if you resolved to workout only in the mornings, is it affecting your sleep? Think of how such rigid resolutions might impact you and be okay with some flexibility.
4. Prepare yourself … your resolutions might change!
And that is OKAY. As the year goes on, things happen, you grow and maybe even develop different opinions on something. Make sure what you’re working for is something that caters to your own lifestyle and beliefs, not someone else’s. If that means changing them to cater to your needs, that’s okay!
These tips might not solve all of your problems when it comes to tweaking your resolutions, but I hope they help you see that setting goals is a very organic process — you can do it anytime and you can always change them. I hope everyone has had a great start to their New Year so far and is living happily and healthfully!
