…is that they are full of false hope.
I think that if you need to wait until a New Year to make a change in your life or if you think you’re suddenly going to become a different person as the calendar turns to Jan 1st then your resolutions probably aren’t going to last very long.
But, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for self-improvement! I think it is healthy and I actually would say that it was one of my hobbies. I just don’t wait until the New Year to make changes, I set goals for myself whenever I feel the need. Some become habits and some are just fads, but I like finding out which ones stick.
The other thing with New Year’s resolutions is a lot of people make really big, grand statements that are wholly unrealistic and are destined to fail. The key to making a conscious change in your life is to set realistic, defined goals and tweak them as they become easier. Saying ‘I’m going to lose weight this year’ or ‘I’m going to learn another language’ is far too vague and can leave the process feeling a bit overwhelming. It is much easier to follow ‘I am going to exercise for at least 30 minutes, twice a week’ or ‘I am going to sign up for beginners French classes’ rather than going in with sweeping statements.
I think the thing that I have realised with the goals that I set myself is that you don’t need a grand gesture to make a change, if you’re unhappy with something in your life, you can do things in smaller doses that make everything more manageable. They don’t even have to be big goals, it can be as small as stretching before bed or remembering to switch off phone chargers to save electricity.
I have, however, put together a list of things that I would like to put more focus on in the next couple of weeks and months. I bet you’re just dying to hear what they are aren’t you?
1. Blog at least once a week.
This is an important one. I really like this blog and it is something I am proud of. But sometimes the last thing I want to do when I have been looking at a computer all day is get home and look at another one. But, and this is the thing, I shouldn’t see this blog as a chore, it is a hobby that I enjoy and I want to continue. By aiming to blog at least once a week I will get in to a regular pattern of blogging and if I blog more than once that is OK! So expect a lot more posts in the future (it also helps that I technically have a lot all ready to go, I just need to write them!)
2. Ring people on their birthdays
I actually muted following this stringently during 2013 but I don’t think I was as strict as I could have been. I think this is a really simple but worthwhile goal that will actually bring more happiness than people realise. I’m not talking about ringing everyone that has a birthday that I am friends with on Facebook but the family and friends that I really care about and am grateful for deserve a quick call on their birthday.
3. Moisturise every day
This again is a pretty simple one but it is not something that I currently do every day. I have quite a strict face routine, I always take my make-up off and I always moisturise my face but the rest of my body just seems to get forgotten. So from now on, I will make it a habit to moisturise everywhere as soon as I get out of the shower. Takes 2 minutes but makes such a difference. Hello smooth skin!
4. Be more present
I realise this might seem a contradiction of what I wrote at the start of this post but let me explain. I know that I tend to daydream a lot. I drift off and think about when I can leave work, or when I am next seeing this person or when my next holiday is etc and the more I think about it, I am actually just constantly wishing it was some other time or worrying about what is currently happening instead of just actually enjoying the moment. So I am going to focus on appreciating the moment for what it is and not focusing on something that is out of my reach.
I think that my list is small but manageable and hopefully more than a few of those will become fully fledged habits in the not too distant future. You have permission to pull me up on them if they don’t. So, have you set any goals or ‘resolutions’ recently?
Oh and if we forgot to say already, Happy New Year!
