Are New Year’s Resolutions Old News? Here are Some Alternatives (GNL10)
I often hear the words new year, new me, but why not new year, same me (with a few minor adjustments)? While the concept of making resolutions at New Year might motivate some individuals to address some of the areas they wish to improve, you are more likely to start on a high note and by the end of February find yourself back to square one. I have to be honest, the idea of making resolutions does not appeal too much to me, I mean why wait until January? OK, the idea of having New Year’s resolutions may be better than doing nothing at all, and I get that for many they act as a driving force, but I invite you to consider some of the alternatives discussed below.
New Year’s resolutions are based on change—losing weight, increasing your exercise, getting a promotion, and saving more money—perhaps suggesting that you’re not good enough the way you are (“new year, new me..? Why is the previous version of me so flawed? We’re all trying to love ourselves better, but there’s a thin line between wanting to improve and focusing only on the negatives. Furthermore, resolutions are often ineffective. According to Drive Research, just 9% of Americans keep their resolutions throughout the year, and I am sure this percentage does not get much better in other parts of the globe either.
The factors that made it hard to achieve our goals last year are still there. Limits on time and unrealistic goal setting can make it difficult to follow through on resolutions. Ian Ballard professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside.
Here are some alternatives to New Year’s resolutions
1. Master the Habit one step at a time
Setting a goal can be tough, especially when you’re not sure how to make it happen. Have you thought about building a habit? That could be the perfect solution! The key to success is starting small and making changes bit by bit over time. For example, if you’re aiming to read more, try committing to just five minutes a day. Over time, this can turn into a sustainable, long-term habit.
2. Focus on the positives
Instead of thinking about what didn’t go as planned last year, take a moment to think about everything you’re grateful for. Think of all those small victories, those special memories, and the lessons you learned that helped shape your year. Holding onto these positive moments as you enter the new year can set a more uplifting and meaningful tone than traditional resolutions.
3. New month, new theme
Instead of making a bunch of big goals for a whole year, try setting a new monthly focus. For example, you could try adding more fruit and vegetables to your diet in January, aim to walk for 30 minutes every day in February, focus on your finances to save more money in March, or practice acts of kindness in April (see “Kindness makes us stronger (GNL5)” for inspiration). Thirty days of exploration and intention feel so much more doable and fun. The key is to set intentions rather than end goals, so you’ll feel proud of yourself no matter what you accomplish while hopefully making it easier to naturally continue these good habits into the following months.
4. Why not make a list of all the things you’re looking forward to in 2025?
The words, “2025 is going to be my year,” are often said, but why is it going to be your year? Are there things in particular you’re excited about from now until 2026? – write them down. Are you going to become an uncle or an aunt, celebrate a special anniversary perhaps, or take a trip with friends? And what about the little things that make life delightful, like a new season of your favorite TV show or a big sporting event coming up? You could even write down some of your ‘Glimmers’ (see “What are your ‘glimmers’?”) and look forward to them on a daily basis.
These are a just few of my favourites and some ideas to get you started, as I know there are endelss lists of other suggestions too. The idea of a monthly theme really tickled my fancy, and something that I have in fact already started, dedicating the month of January to my fitness regime, aiming to walk for 30-45 minutes per day. Although I can’t cut out the time I spend in front of a screen completely, I can find ways of reducing it, so that could very well be my focus in February, any suggestions to how I might approach it?
Which one of the alternatives to New Year’s resolutions is your favourite? You might have different suggestions to share too, leave a comment below because I’d love to hear about them. And if you are a fan of New Year’s resoultions, why not let us know too?