Do your New Year’s resolutions seem redundant year after year? Something like…eat healthier, lose weight, join a gym, recycle, save more money?
As if our lives aren’t stressful enough, why must we conclude the year with an endless list of personal promises and lofty goals that are unlikely to be all fulfilled? Granted, it serves us good to at least write a list of what we hope to accomplish, but who really needs the added pressure of such a dubious pledge? I’m all for reflection and resolution, but doable trumps all. We all have good intentions of course, but if we’re finding ourselves reaching for repetitive goals every year, perhaps we should tailor them to be more practical. And maybe, just maybe, we’re throwing too many ideas into the pot. Beginning a brand new calendar year can be motivating and yet tempting to re-invent ourselves. But it is improbable that we can fix everything that is lacking in ourselves in one year.
Don’t set yourself up for failure. Avoid making such a long list of impossible dreams. Look to manage stress this year, not create more. This would be the time to organize all facets of your life; personal, family, business, etc.
Prioritize your goals and go after the important ones with gusto. Focus on what did not work so well this past year and make the necessary improvements. Better to do one thing well, than a lot of mediocre.
Or…
STOP making specific resolutions altogether and simply start living a better life, in general. Pay attention to yourself, be true to who you really are, and like Oprah will tell ya, “live your best life!”
Here’s some easy ways to start;
- Keep learning
- Be kind-er than you were last year
- Be grateful for what you have
- Live a healthi-er life than you did last year
- Smile more
- Laugh often
- Love more
An above all…
- Eat the ice cream! (indulge now and then, with no regrets)
If this sounds a bit cliche, do not overlook the significance of these simple attainable pleasurable objectives. But you can of course opt out of any of these, and find your own creative ways to make life better than it was last year. An overall positive outlook is a great instigator for productive change, and that attitude alone, will inspire you to get closer to your aspirations. If nothing else, striving to be more organized will provide you with the focus you need to affect this change.
Happy New Year! Rejuvenate. Turn the page. How are you going to make this next year better?