A new year brings a fresh start, and most importantly, it helps us with saying “au revoir” to the us we were last year—the us we are trying to change. The idea of having a blank canvas is exciting. What are we going to do with our time this year? Will we spend it by throwing ourselves into work, shaping ourselves into the person we would like to one day be? Or will we spend it just like we did the previous year?
If you’re anything like me, you’d like to think that you’ll be different this year. We tell ourselves that this time it will be different, no matter the sacrifices we have to make to get there. Whether your New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, to slow down on the drinking, or to simply be more neat, there are steps that you’re going to have to take in order to actually make it work this time.
There’s nothing difficult about making a New Year’s resolution. The difficult part is sticking with it and changing ourselves.
The first step in putting your plan into place is being realistic while setting it up. While you may want to lose weight, and you think that you can make it to the gym every day for two hours, be more realistic with yourself. Granted, you may be able to do that. However, it’s more likely that you won’t have the time nor the motivation to do that every single day for the next 365 days. Setting unrealistic goals is like texting your crush that you liked them in middle school. You know for a fact that you’re going to turn around and pretend that your friend had your phone. Your friend in this situation being your over-idealistic self at the beginning of the year. So instead, set a realistic goal like eating healthier and working out three hours a week.
The reason that I mention working out only three hours a week is simple. If you choose to dedicate way more time than you’re used to, you’re probably going to burn yourself out quickly. Start small and work yourself up. It’s better that you start with a couple hours a week and work up than if you work out ten hours the first week and then never see the gym again.
The next step is to actually plan how you’re going to make your goals come to life. If you have the money, splurge on a cute planner and treat yourself for making it through the year. If not, download a planner template off Pinterest, or simply use the Calendar app on your phone or computer. I find that if I’ve written something down, then I feel more inclined to do it. Remember to be realistic when scheduling and remember to give yourself days off too. If you’re working hard, then you deserve it. Just don’t overkill it with the days off.
One of the biggest things that helps me to be more accountable is by sharing my journey and telling others about my goals. If your mom and friends are asking about it, you’re more likely to be excited about it and actually go through with following your goals. If you really want to, and you have a group of friends that are willing, make it a competition to see who can stick with their resolution the longest.
Another thing that can absolutely help, and serve as a reminder of our goals is making a mood board. Get a bunch of friends and make a girls night out of it! Buy some posters, bring some craft supplies and magazines for cut outs, or invite people to bring their own prints if they so choose. If you’re not necessarily the crafty type – make a Pinterest board! Add anything that inspires and speaks to you, whatever makes you smile, and anything you see yourself in. This can be a giant art collage that you hang up on your wall, a phone background, or a Pinterest board that you keep to yourself.
Remember not to be so hard on yourself. It’s okay to fail, and it’s completely normal to slip up here and there. However, don’t allow a small slip up to discourage you and stop trying all together. You’ll never know if you don’t try.