Are you a resolution maker?

You’re not alone. Many people use the start of a new year to begin self-improvement journeys. 

Gyms are filled with enthusiastic beginners. Church attendance is up. Charities are full of donations and volunteers. People everywhere are actively trying to improve the quality of their lives. It’s a lovely sentiment, but for some reason, it doesn’t last. Most people have resumed their normal pre-new year lives by February. 

I’ve jumped on the New Year’s Resolution bandwagon many times. I’ve had grand notions of better diets and more exercise, but it never worked for me. This time I’m contemplating how I can approach the new year differently.

If you’ve been following my blog, you know I’ve been trying to embrace life and do things I’ve always wanted to do. Some have been small, like getting my ears pierced, and others have been huge, like publishing my first novel. With each accomplishment, I’ve learned more about myself. So as I considered my goals for this year, I realized some—

Basic truths about resolutions.

1. Most resolutions are too broad and hard to achieve. “Lose Weight” is too general. Instead, a better goal would be to say, “I will stop drinking sodas.” Think about what you would love to achieve but don’t set that as your resolution. Instead, set ONE TINY STEP toward that goal as your resolution. Something you can definitely do.

2. Most resolutions are hard because they don’t fit into our already established (and busy) lives. If you set a goal to exercise at the gym but the gym is hard to get to, you just won’t do it. Find a step that won’t upset your normal schedule too much. For example, if you set a resolution to publish a novel, but you have a full time job, kids, and no budget to accomplish it…then you won’t. Instead, set a resolution to write a short story, and put it on a free site to get feedback. That’s a shorter, less expensive step toward your goal. You stand a much better chance of achieving it.

3. Stop putting so much pressure on yourself. We set resolutions and the moment we mess up, we’ve failed. We need to change our mindset. Stop thinking of resolutions as pass/fail. “Oh well, I didn’t go to the gym. Guess I’ll try again next year.” It’s hard to make new habits, and chances are it will take a few tries to make the change permanent. It’s ok if you don’t get it right the first few times. Think of it as a journey—a mission. There may be twists and unexpected turns, but you adapt and keep trying.

4. This is the biggest thing to remember when making resolutions. Stop thinking “New Year, New You!” Look…no one is perfect, and we can always push ourselves to be better. BUT—understand that you are enough. You are exactly as you should be and even if you never set a single resolution, you are still worthwhile, important, and valid. You do NOT need a “New You” This is just a fun way to push ourselves to grow. The “you” you are right now is just fine too. 

To Sum It All Up:

If you feel like setting a resolution for the new year, that’s fantastic. If you don’t, that’s great too. Just remember to keep it simple and achievable. Don’t give up, but know that who you are right now is perfectly ok, too. 

Me? I’m going to keep on doing what I started last year. I’m planning on saying yes to more adventures on my to-do list. Even if it’s scary. Hopefully you will stick around to hear about it. I’d love to hear how you plan on challenging yourself this year. Need help? Tell me what you would like to do and let’s see if we can come up with something together! Just comment below or drop me a line. 

I hope this year started on a positive note for you all. Mine was a bumpy start but things are looking up, and I’m giving thanks for that. 

All my love to you. Happy New Year!