I was not going to make any new year’s resolutions for 2022. News of a fourth (or is it fifth?) wave of COVID-19 left me thinking, what’s the point? The past two years have completely flipped our perceptions and ways of life. COVID-19 has not just spawned a health crisis but enabled another harmful tendency: procrastination. Months of staying in have sucked many into the habit of hitting the pause button and waiting for the pandemic to finally end. And yet there are some people who never seem to let life defeat them. Those dedicated runners who will show up even on the darkest and coldest of days. Those people who got laid off during the pandemic and successfully launched a new career or started a new business. For every 10 people who give up, there is always that one who keeps going no matter what. So how about striving to be that one? The truth is, 2022 will look exactly like 2021 if you don’t get out of your comfort zone.
Thomas Edison inspired me to make New Year’s resolutions for 2022. Maintaining New Year’s resolutions has always been difficult, and statistics show that most people give up before the month of January is over. The key to ensuring your new year's resolution last is by taking small steps so that you don't get overwhelmed. Here are five tips to make sure your New Year's resolutions last past January 2022!
The first step is to write down the things you hope to achieve in the new year. Better still, publish them to friends and family. This will help you stay accountable and make sure you're on track to reaching your goals. Plus, it's a great way to look back at what you've accomplished throughout the year!
SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Before you write down each resolution, ask yourself these five questions: Is it specific? Is it measurable? Does your resolution relate to your current lifestyle and work routine (you can't train for an ultra-marathon if don't run now because of how busy you are with school/work)? Can you achieve this goal within a certain time frame (a year is the standard but feel free to do six months or two years, depending on your own personal goals)? Finally, does achieving this goal improve other areas of your life as well (e.g., becoming healthier will help you be more active with family)
If all these questions can be answered with "yes", then congratulations! You have found yourself a winner of a resolution.
Set realistic goals because it's important to set goals that challenge you but are still achievable. Saying "I want to be healthier" is better captured as "I will go for a run three times a week." Having measurable and attainable goals makes it easier not to get discouraged as well. Make sure to track your progress. Seeing tangible evidence of how far you've come can provide motivation when the going gets tough. Whether it's using an app or simply writing down your goal at the beginning of each day, find a way to track your progress so you can feel good about what you've accomplished!
Don't overwhelm yourself with too many things at once. When it comes to the new year's resolution, quality over quantity is key. Choose one thing that will make a significant impact on your life and focus all your energy towards completing this task. Make sure you take some time for yourself. This may seem counterproductive but if you're not in a good place mentally or emotionally how can you expect to achieve anything? Relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation or reading can help centre yourself so when it comes time to work on the new year's resolution, you'll be fully focused.
Give it time. Most new year's resolutions are relatively short-term so try to avoid putting too much pressure on yourself if you don't reach your goal right away. The main thing is being consistent and persistent over the long term, not setting unrealistic expectations that can cause unnecessary stress.
Don’t give up after a few weeks! It takes months for most new year's resolution ideas to take hold in our brains which means giving up just because of a little setback isn't worth it!
Whether its friends, family, colleagues, or other people who share the same goal as you; surrounding yourself with positive individuals will only push you closer achieving your objectives. Conversely, staying away from negative or pessimistic people will be helpful. Don't let anyone discourage you from following through with your goals - if they do, find new friends!
