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Just because I feel like it, here's some things that have helped me stick to new year's resolutions in the past (or... Any goals/changes cause that's really all it is, just using a specific year as a framework)
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1. You don't have to start on January 1st. The year is 365 days long. And January, at least where I live, is a particularly bad time to try to start anything new. It's dark all the time! It's rainy! No thank u.
If your goal is to be able to run 5km, you don't need to start in january. Maybe April is better (I suppose unless you have pollen allergies)
Think about it for a bit and see if there isn't a more comfortable time to get the ball rolling.
Think about it for a bit and see if there isn't a more comfortable time to get the ball rolling.
2. Don't do everything at once. Don't make 20 resolutions that require you to start sg new and don't try to do your whole list all at once. You're gonna exhaust yourself.
3. Start small.
Maybe in January you start by taking 10 minute walks every day to help you get used to leaving the house for the express purpose of moving your body. If, like me, the big hurdle is having to change clothes, maybe make that part of the routine sometime.
Maybe in January you start by taking 10 minute walks every day to help you get used to leaving the house for the express purpose of moving your body. If, like me, the big hurdle is having to change clothes, maybe make that part of the routine sometime.
If you haven't read books regularly in years, your first goal isn't to read ten or even five books in the new year. It's to read for ten minutes - or maybe even just one page - every day. If you wanna read more, cool. If you don't, cool.
If you miss a day, you're not demotivatingly behind.
If it's a new thing, start small. No, smaller. Smaller. As small as it gets. You're building a new habit sustainably. Go. Slow.
If it's a new thing, start small. No, smaller. Smaller. As small as it gets. You're building a new habit sustainably. Go. Slow.
4. Make it CONCRETE
"Meditate twice a week" is better than "practice mindfulness". "Finish six coloured pieces or studies in three distinct art styles (they don't have to look fantastic)" is probably better than "Play around with art styles"
"Meditate twice a week" is better than "practice mindfulness". "Finish six coloured pieces or studies in three distinct art styles (they don't have to look fantastic)" is probably better than "Play around with art styles"
5. Stick it on to another habit.
Read for those ten minutes when you jump into bed or while eating breakfast. Write that one line in your journal right after dinner. Whatever works.
Read for those ten minutes when you jump into bed or while eating breakfast. Write that one line in your journal right after dinner. Whatever works.
6. Think of it more as reminders. Take the list out every once in a while and see how you're doing. Do you need more concrete steps? Does something need to be taken off the list for whatever reason?
I refuse to have my aspirations be a leash. It's supposed to be a reminder of how I want to spend my time. Not to say it can't provide challenge. But if it feels suffocating or overwhelming, it'd probably too tight or too big. Loosen it up.
Let it be iterative. You're not a failure for misjudging the exact right scope for what you wanted to achieve. Circumstances, needs and priotities change, estimates are ESTIMATES. But I think I'm getting into territory that's more suited for therapists here
As a closing thought: the idea that "new years resolutions" don't work, period, is way too close to saying that making any positive changes to your life is impossible, for my comfort. Imo, the issue is closer to 1) trying to do it all at once and 2) doing it at a bad time
