The start of a new year might seem like the perfect excuse to procrastinate your goals and make it a promise for next year. Common resolutions include weight loss, smoking cessation, better time-management, or other big life changes. The problem is, when the clock strikes midnight, you get that kiss, and cheers to another rotation around the sun…you are still the same person. Goals take planning, determination, and cannot be accomplished with the flip of a switch. Below are some roadblocks to those new year’s resolutions:
- Vagueness: Telling yourself “I’m going to be more responsible this year” might sound great, but where in your life will you apply that. Work? School? Home? Being specific makes goals more attainable.
- Unrealistic: This can be something like “I’m going to travel this year”. A great idea, but if you were able to travel, wouldn’t you have done it this year? Think about if you have any savings for traveling or if you are actually able to take time off of work.
- Doubt: Repeating the same resolution year after year can be very disheartening. That nagging voice will be in the back of your head saying you’re not strong enough, not good enough, or not determined enough. Challenge those self-deprecating thoughts and believe in yourself!
- Impatience: In today’s world we all want things RIGHT NOW! Well guess what, you cannot go from a size 20 to a size 10 overnight, you cannot magically have more time for family when you have a job that keeps you working 60 hours a week, and you cannot break those big bad habits just by saying you want to. To accomplish big things and make real, lasting changes, it is necessary to be patient and take baby steps.
- Lack of social support: Even if you consider yourself a lone wolf, the reality is humans have a very real need for other human beings. We need social support to thrive. If you can’t find a friend in the real world to support you, start with social groups online to chat with about your progress.
Instead of setting unrealistic hopes and dreams, try making a realistic list of a long-term goal. Then, break that long-term goal into smaller, achievable, and simpler goals. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, instead of saying “I’m gonna lose 30 pounds this year!” Try starting with “I’m going to make healthy eating choices and exercise this week.” Then week after week of that same or similar small goals, the pounds will start to shed.
So, this year, try saying NO to New Year’s resolutions and set short term, long-lasting goals for your future. This time next year you may find you’ve met your friend’s New Year’s resolution, which they abandoned back in February.
