Create New Year's Resolutions That Really Work
As a year comes to an end, our minds enter a state of Reflecting and Proposing for the approaching new year. For many of us, this symbolizes a new opportunity to set goals, propose changes in our lives, and get closer to achieving many of our dreams. However, this brings us to the most important question: How can we ensure that all our resolutions don't just remain fleeting wishes? Today, I want to share some of the ways in which I think about and propose my New Year's resolutions, so that they are not only meaningful but also achievable.
The Importance of Conscious Reflection
Before starting to think about our resolutions for the coming year, it is vital to take a moment to reflect on: What were the lessons I learned this year? What were your greatest achievements and challenges? This reflection will be our foundation on which we can build our resolutions for the new year.
If you wish, to facilitate this exercise, you can take paper and pencil, and write down:
All the achievements you reached this year that make you feel proud. What were the learned lessons, keeping in mind each of the challenges you had to face and what you learned from each of them. And finally, take some time to enter into an attitude of gratitude, think about everything that makes you feel thankful.
Identify Areas for Growth
After having completed your reflection in a conscious and solid way, you should continue by identifying which aspects you need to improve and change. Consider aspects such as health, career, relationships, personal development, or any aspect of your personal life that you consider important.
For this exercise, you should ask yourself questions like:
What areas of my life need more attention or improvement?
Are there skills or hobbies that I would like to develop?
What would make me feel happier and more relaxed?
Set SMART Goals
In many of my discussions with the psychologist, for controlling my self-criticism, he explained that we should set SMART objectives and goals, referring to these being Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This has been an important tool for me.
How
Specific:
Define as clearly as possible what you want to achieve.
Measurable:
Make sure that the proposed goals have clear criteria to measure progress.
Achievable:
Look for a balance where your goals are challenging but realistic at the same time.
Relevant: Ensure that your goals are aligned with your values and long-term objectives.
Time-bound:
Set a deadline to achieve your goals.
Create an Action Plan.
Thinking and proposing our goals is just the beginning of this path. One of the ways to achieve them is to establish an action plan. Break each goal into small, manageable steps and, if possible, set a schedule for each. Establishing times, as my psychologist explained, allows us to have control over what we need to do and avoids distractions in activities that are not relevant.
Strategies
Task Breakdown:
Break each goal into a series of small steps.
Set Deadlines:
Assign realistic deadline dates to each step. Be careful in this step; do not set deadlines that create pressure, but also not too flexible. Remember, it's very important to find a balance.
Flexibility and Adjustments:
Be flexible and willing to adjust your plan as necessary. Remember, we often face adversities and setbacks in our paths that imply making adjustments to our plans. The idea is that setting deadlines allows us to stay focused, without losing our emotional stability by not meeting them.
Stay Motivated:
As I mentioned earlier, life is full of obstacles and adversities. These will make it difficult to achieve our goals and make many things more challenging. However, I want to tell you about some of the things that have helped me stay motivated:
Visual Reminders:
Use sticky notes, journals, or apps to remember your goals. It's very basic but trying it helps.
Celebrate Small Achievements: Recognizing and celebrating even small progress can be a great boost.
Support and Accountability:
Share your goals with friends or family who can offer support.
Finally, Reflecting and Proposing
New Year's resolutions are a wonderful opportunity to focus on personal growth and improvement. With these steps, you will be able to organize everything easily. Remember, the journey towards your goals is as important as the destination!
Wellness
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Writer
Cata, a Colombian-born, bilingual enthusiast who's been deeply involved in the safety industry while globe-trotting for work. Despite her demanding job, she always made room for my passions – gastronomy and fitness. At AXTENZO, she pours her heart into sharing personal experiences and offering valuable insights to help you reach your lifestyle goals.
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