The Holiday Resolutions
If the arrival of a new year comes with the traditional wishes for good health, it is also followed by the desire to make and keep good resolutions. It could be to lose weight, help others more, stop smoking, do more sports, spend less on restaurants, drink less, or spend more time with family and friends.
Life is like a refresher course in which everyone hopes to become "better oneself." Because it is also about consuming differently, not being overwhelmed, knowing how to disconnect, de-stress, stop eating meat or sugar, tidy up better or jog more, etc.
However, despite the good intentions and hope for a better self, how long are these resolutions maintained? Many of us probably won’t make it past the month of February. Regardless of these popular resolutions and most people around me, I still refuse after several years of the famous New Year's Resolutions.
Why?
It’s not only because the gym starts being overcrowded in January. The problem with New Year's resolutions is that motivation often comes from outside of us rather than from within.
I would like to be very clear. I believe it is important to set short-, medium- and long-term goals. However, I do believe this should be personal and not at one specific time of the year. Also, one of my problems is that I am really demanding of myself and have a hard time accepting failure and then I get even more scared to commit, therefore I don’t want to say, start something that I am not sure that I am ready for.
Especially around the holidays, many of us already eat too much food and or drink more than we want, we may fall behind on sleep or our daily routine may be otherwise impacted, so we may feel less of the motivation we need to maintain positive changes.
In the same way, it doesn’t mean I will succeed with a goal set in June because, yes, like everyone else, I am human, and I won’t always achieve what I wish for or want. However, I think it is important to start, do them when you are ready, fed up with something, stop a certain pattern, or simply because now it could jeopardize your health, mental health, and/or relationships.
When you’re ready, you need to make the change for yourself.
On another note, when I looked back on the prior months of this year, I realized that I had accomplished a lot over the year, in addition to having had difficult times both professionally and personally. Which, this is part of my New Year's resolutions I would say, acknowledging myself and this past year, my success, my happy moments, my struggles and remember what I want to continue and bring with me for next year or what I want to let go as well. By remaining flexible, I allow myself to achieve a positive record and see my last months as successes and learning opportunities.
How?
Regardless of whether you choose to set New Year's resolutions/goals or do them when you are ready later in the year, just remember:
· Do something meaningful (important) to you
· Write it down
· Visualize the desired outcome
· Focus on the important tasks and action plan
· Be realistic
· Tell your support system (friends, family)
· Hold yourself accountable
· Seek for professional help
· Celebrate victories, even the little ones.
By the way, accountability means understanding that you are the only person in control of your life. It means taking responsibility for the decisions that got you where you are today – and learning from them. Without accountability, you’ll always blame your circumstances on forces beyond your control.
About The Author
Lethia is the Client Care Specialist for the Center for Integrative Change. She completed her Bachelor Degree in Social Work at the University of Quebec, in Canada. Her primary passions are families and the well-being of the community, but no matter who she is working with she always strive to meet each person with compassion and full attention.