What is the reasoning behind this? Why is a new calendar year required for most of us to start really caring about our health and weight? And why can’t we keep these resolutions? There’s a multitude of factors at play here, and most of the clichés about New Year’s resolutions are actually quite accurate. So whatâs stopping you from achieving your goals this year? Is it lack of time? Lack of discipline? Poor planning? Or is it simply trying to do too much? Find out below!
Table of Contents
Cliché
The standard cliché of New Year’s resolutions is that they never last. Usually this is because people either take on too much, try too hard, or simply give up because of one small pitfall. These are all examples of why itâs important to be aware of the common clichés of these resolutions. The very idea of setting a goal can make you feel inferior since you have yet to achieve what youâve set out to do.
But goals can also be extremely motivating, and thatâs the side Iâd like you to focus on. All those days where you couldnât be what you wanted to be, couldnât achieve what you wanted to achieve. Maybe you were told you could NEVER do something. Well, guess what? You are capable of great things. You just have to find your willpower and motivation.
Find Your Reasons
Quite simply, what made you want to start on your resolution? Goals are often rooted in unhappiness. So what are you unhappy with? Is it your weight? Your body? Your job? Maybe you have health issues you know you need to fix but that you haven’t made a priority. Well, guess what? Those issues arenât going away on your own. Oftentimes the problems with resolutions is that they simply require clear motivation. Think about WHY you want to achieve your goal. Think about it for a while and make those reasons your continued motivation. Which brings us to our next point.
Stick To The Plan
Perhaps the most prevalent cliché about New Yearâ’s resolutions is that they are very quickly abandoned. We all know the person who tries to give up sugar, becomes a terrible person to deal with for the next 4 days, and then happily gorges on donuts on Friday. Donât be that person. Find a way to stick to your plan, knowing it will be stressful and knowing it will have bumps in the road. These bumps are often random and understanding that you canât avoid them is paramount to actually achieving your goals.
In the face of extreme unpredictability, maybe a poor night’s sleep, a stressful job change, a sudden breakup â you must stick to the plan. This is the time when sticking to the plan is actually more important than ever. In an extremely stressful situation, a plan and goal can actually help you stay on track. No plan and no goal typically leads to disaster. And is also â I hate to say it â probably what youâve been doing to get to this point.
Running around with no plan, no idea how to succeed, and just frustration. Does this sound like you? I thought so. It doesnât have to be, though. There are ways to succeed, ways to plan, and ways to get to where you want to be. And the first, and possibly most important, thing to remember is to stick to the plan. Which brings us to our next point.
Put Yourself First
For those of us who are kind, nice, and giving, it can become very difficult to stop putting others before ourselves, even when we know it is hurting us. There are many great things about putting others first. But the downside to that is that your own life and goals can often suffer. Look to those around you who are very successful. What is their strategy? Do they put themselves first? Do they take good care of their body and their mind? I bet that they do. If you arenât healthy, you canât take care of others or give them your best.
I know, I know this can be very easy to say but very difficult to do. Mothers especially have a hard time with this one. It feels like your priority in life is to take care of others, but you also need to take care of yourself. Even if itâs only for 15 minutes per day. Even if itâs only in a small way. But hereâs another hint: small changes can lead to big changes. Getting through that first part is the hardest and once you do, your confidence will be built and you can move forward easier.
One Step At A Time
Do you have a lot of changes to make? Do you need to get divorced, lose weight, and change jobs? It can happen, and there is a way to do it. It’s obviously not ideal to attempt all these things at once. That being said, yes, it is possible. But I wouldnât recommend it. Change, true change, takes time. And it also requires a strategy. A great strategy is what separates those who make changes from those who donât.
You need to seriously sit down and make a plan to which you can stick and shows your priorities. While taking one step at a time, you also need to be aware of what your next steps are. This organized and structured way of thinking can help you stay on task and can also help you achieve your goals. The mere idea of having a plan is helpful. This is how most of us also get off track to begin with. When correcting our lifeâs problems, it is always ideal to try and turn the boat around before things get worse.
Take Charge
Therefore, when new problems crop up, it seems ideal to not let them go. Don’t wait for next yearâs resolution time to make changes. Make the changes today and if new problems come up, tackle them head on. Waiting for things to get worse is not a good way to go through life. Use this time of year to re-think how you deal with problems and how you can improve your place in life. Donât wait for things to change â make them change.
Taking action will not only give you a sense of confidence, it will make you feel better. Being in control of things, especially your own life, is invaluable and something you can’t get from anyone but yourself. This is what New Year’s resolutions are all about. Take charge of your life and donât allow small things to derail you. When problems happen, make sure you nip them in the bud. Smart, successful people donât usually need to make New Yearâs resolutions. And if they do, itâ’s usually to work less or do other things that they have the freedom to do because theyâve prioritized and already made sure other parts of their life were successful. This is an important lesson to learn.
Health Is Multi-Variate
Mental health is just as important, if not more important, than physical health. Sure, it may be ideal to lose some weight. Six pack abs are most peopleâs dream. But at the end of the day, is this the ONE thing you want to focus on? Iâve guided many clients to that goal, and theyâve often found that while happy with their new body, not everything in their life miraculously became better. This is where realistic goals and the multiple elements of health become important.
What are your priorities? What makes you happy? Is your resolution something that will actually make your life better? Or is it a distraction? Make sure that you choose wisely and you pick a goal, or goals, that will actually make a difference. This is not a decision to be taken lightly, despite the constant tendency in our modern society to take most things lightly. Since this is the only time when most people think about actually changing things, think about how much potential you have right now. Your life can get infinitely better and you have the power to make it happen.
Conclusion
So what will you be doing this year? Will you be making a difference? Will you be improving yourself? Or will you continue to coast by, and not change anything, becoming worse off and more depressed? The choice is yours. And it is a powerful one. Make this year the best one of your life.
Do you have problems that seem insurmountable? Do you want to fix them? What are your resolutions? Let us know in the comments!
This article originally appeared on PaleoHacks.