Making Resolutions in 2023

Published on:

By: Adam Smith

In: Goals, Wellness

Making Resolutions

When the new year approaches, many of us look forward to a fresh start and the opportunity to make and accomplish new goals. Many of us set out to make resolutions to improve our lives in some way. Whether it’s to lead a healthier lifestyle, to save money, or to spend more time with family and friends, making resolutions is a great way to stay motivated and inspired throughout the year. We are determined to make changes in the year to come and improve our lives in some way. While it’s admirable to want to strive for self-improvement, it’s important to set realistic goals and understand that change takes time. In this article we share our tips for making the best resolution for yourself, sharing ways to stay strong in maintaining our goals in the first weeks of the year.

If there is anything that you would like to discuss further, you can speak to a member of our team.

Why resolutions can fail

Many people set ambitious resolutions at the start of the year and can quickly become overwhelmed and frustrated when they can’t keep up with their goals. Without a clear plan and achievable timeline, it can be hard to stay motivated. Additionally, it can be easy to quickly fall into old habits as well as feelings of guilt or frustration when a resolution isn’t kept. To avoid breaking a resolution early on, it’s important to break larger goals into smaller and more manageable pieces. Additionally, setting realistic expectations and celebrating small successes can help keep you motivated and on track.

In the late stages of a new year, most people struggle to keep their resolutions for many reasons. The main cause of failure is lack of motivation as the journey gets harder as we get closer to the end. Additionally, life has a way of getting in the way and putting our goals on the backburner, as we become busy with other commitments. People may also become overwhelmed by how much they have yet to accomplish and give up feeling a sense of defeat. Finally, when people don’t see results quickly enough, they may become discouraged, which can lead to abandoning their resolutions entirely.

Choose a goal which is important to you

When deciding on a resolution, it’s important to ask yourself what this resolution means for you in the long term. Some resolutions can be too short sighted or potentially unimportant in the grand scheme of things, resulting in these resolutions to be dropped after a few weeks. On the other hand, some resolutions can be unrealistic and unachievable. Your resolution should be an achievable one, something you’re truly passionate about and that will have a positive effect on your life. Choose something that will truly make a difference in your life and that you can realistically achieve. Taking up a new hobby or getting more organized can be a great way to give your life a positive boost and setting achievable goals that you can break down into smaller daily tasks can help you to stay on track. Finding a single goal that is meaningful and important to you will ensure that you are motivated to keep it throughout the year.

Keep things simple

Keeping your resolution simple is one of the easiest ways to ensure success. Take the time to think of resolutions you know you can achieve and make sure they are simple and specific. Break down larger goals into smaller steps and set small goals to achieve each step. Be realistic about how long it will take you to reach your goal and celebrate your success along the way!

Plan your goals

When taking on such important goals like resolutions in the new year, where we’re looking to significantly improve particular aspects of our lives, it’s crucial that we break these goals into smaller, achievable objectives. This can be great if you’re looking at a larger resolution, such as losing a shedload of weight – you can spread objectives over the next few months, like buying gym attire, finding the right routine and workout, and focusing on different parts of your body if you’re weight training. This keeps things manageable and trackable, which gives us a great sense of satisfaction and motivation each time we accomplish what we set out to achieve.

  • Goals are not measurable e.g. ‘I am going to go to the gym’. This does not specify how often you will go, when you will go or what you want to achieve by going to the gym. There is no way of measuring if the goal has been achieved. After one or two visits the momentum is gone and so are the trips to the gym
  • Once the elation of setting a goal has passed we quickly become frustrated and give up
  • The resolutions are not realistic or achievable
  • We believe we lack willpower. When our goals begin to feel challenging we tell ourselves that we are simply not disciplined enough, that we ‘always give up’ or that we lack the necessary willpower to see it through. Then we fall back into our old familiar habits
  • We lack a viable plan

Anticipate Challenges

When going after a goal, it can often be easy to become so focused on the finish line that you forget to prepare for the obstacles you might face along the way. Anticipating challenges can be key to success, as it can enable you to plan ahead and be better prepared to deal with anything that might arise.

Think about the challenges you may face in reaching your goal. It can be helpful to think of potential challenges in both the short and long term. Determine what challenges are most likely to arise and then make a plan for how to overcome them.

Knowing what challenges could come up can help you make sure you’re taking the right steps to meet your goal. It may even help you recognize what skills, abilities, and resources you should be cultivating to ensure that you’ll be able to tackle those challenges head on.

Be forgiving of yourself

It’s ok to fail, to make mistakes, and to not be perfect. Life is full of hurdles and roadblocks, which can’t always be overcome easily or quickly. But don’t let setbacks and difficulties keep you from achieving your goals. Rather than getting angry at yourself for not meeting your goals, take a deep breath and focus on what you can do to move forward. Acknowledge that you’ve done the best you can, and then think about what else you can do to get closer to your goal.

It’s also important to recognize and appreciate your accomplishments. Acknowledge the goals you’ve achieved, however small. Celebrate successes, however big or small, and remind yourself of how far you’ve come. These victories, no matter how small, will help to motivate you to keep moving forward. It’s ok to be frustrated or disappointed that you didn’t do better; just don’t let it be an excuse to give up!

Develop your willpower

When it comes to being successful, there is no denying the power of willpower. Having the commitment and dedication to complete goals is essential to achieving results and much of our success in life is determined by the strength of our willpower. That’s why developing and maintaining a strong level of self-discipline should be taken very seriously. To develop your willpower and commitment to your goals, you need to identify key strategies that will help you stay focused and motivated. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Set realistic goals and priorities: To maintain your focus and commitment, it’s important to set achievable goals and prioritize them according to importance. This will help you stay motivated and make sure that you don’t get overwhelmed or become disheartened.
  • Focus on small steps and progress: When setting goals, try breaking them down into smaller, more achievable steps. This will help you maintain momentum and make sure that you’re making steady progress towards making your dreams a reality
  • Develop a support system: Having the support of others can be invaluable when it comes to developing your willpower. Let your family and friends know what you’re working towards and ask for help if you need it
  • Focus on positive thoughts: Eliminating negative thoughts and focusing on positive ones can help you stay motivated and increase your willpower. Avoid wallowing in self-doubt and remember to focus on the good things you’ve done and what you can achieve
  • Create an action plan: Establish an action plan and create a timeline to complete different tasks and goals

Give yourself room to wiggle

No matter what your goal is, it’s important to give yourself some wiggle room. That way, if something unexpected arises or if you must change your plans, you won’t feel like you have failed. Without wiggle room, it can be easy to become overwhelmed with the feeling of failure when something unexpected happens, even if it is out of your control.

To avoid this, break your goals down into smaller milestones and set realistic deadlines for yourself. For example, if your goal is to get a promotion at work, set a timeline of achievable goals that will help you get there. This could include things like attending networking events or taking a professional development course. Then, allow yourself the flexibility to adjust your timeline and expectations if for some reason you are unable to do one of these things.

SMART goals

In business, objectives are often determined using SMART goals. This popular approach can also be applied to our personal resolutions. The benefit of using SMART is that it is a convenient reminder of the essential elements of goal setting. The acronym reminds us to set goals or resolutions that are:

Specific – Goals should be simple and should clearly define what you are going to do.

Measurable – Goals need to be measurable and this requires thinking ahead about how you will provide tangible evidence that you have accomplished it.

Achievable – Goals should stretch you so that you feel challenged but they need to be defined enough so that you can achieve them. This might include ensuring you have the necessary knowledge and abilities to achieve them.

Results focused – Your goals should measure outcomes rather than activity.

Time-bound – You need to set a time frame for achieving your goal so that there is some tension between the current reality and the vision of your goal. This increases the likelihood of meeting your desired outcome.

Resolutions as an opportunity

When setting goals and resolutions, it’s important to keep in mind that they’re an opportunity to become the better version of yourself. In doing so, you’ll make sure that you don’t get overwhelmed or discouraged by the process. Many people have a misconception that goals are supposed to be purely analytical and measurable, and that’s not always the case. Goals should be seen as opportunities for personal growth, and for your development as an individual.

The best way to approach goals and resolutions is to focus on the process of achieving them, rather than the end results. This will help you stay motivated and give you a sense of accomplishment along the way.

Contact us

If you want to best support your teams and help them create and stick with their 2023 resolutions, contact the team today and we’ll create a tailored plan which supports your team best. Contact the Valentine team at 0800 020 9913 or email us at service@valentineoh.co.uk.

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