2020 has been a whirlwind of a year to say the least, and most of us are looking ahead optimistically to the new year. Think back to the beginning of this year. Did you set any new year's resolutions? Did you stay committed to completing them? If not, you are certainly not alone. Many studies have shown that most people who set resolutions at the start of the year end up failing to complete them. But if you follow these tips, you’ll be much more likely to stick to your goals.
Achievable + Realistic
This may seem obvious, but sometimes resolutions are not met simply because your expectations are too high. Your goal can be challenging, but make sure you have enough time and resources in the coming year to realistically make it happen. For example, maybe you are interested in starting new hobbies in 2021. Even if there are multiple activities you’d like to learn, it’s more effective to pick the one that excites you the most. You will be less likely to become overwhelmed and more likely to continue the resolution by focusing your energy on just one new hobby. As you learn your new skill and improve you can always create additional goals for yourself as the year progresses.
Set Goals Within Goals
To help make your resolutions more attainable, you can break them down into smaller, short-term goals. For example, instead of having the goal “eat healthier,” find specific recipes online on a monthly or weekly basis and shop accordingly. Setting a goal number of recipes to cook each week is much more realistic than telling yourself to eat healthy for the entire year. Most large goals can be broken down into smaller tasks; if yours cannot be, you may want to reconsider them and make sure your goals are within your reach.
Aim to Give Back
When setting your new resolutions, consider adding a goal that can add positivity to the world and help others. With the global pandemic, 2020 has shown us that people all around the world need help now more than ever. There are many simple, cost-free ways to contribute to your community like volunteering with local nonprofits. Find a cause that is meaningful to you and research how you can help. Be sure that your charitable goal is attainable; it can be as simple as volunteering for an hour each month. It’s better to complete small acts of kindness than to plan for a large, unattainable goal and not reach it.
Hopefully this has helped motivate you to create attainable and charitable goals for the upcoming new year. Try not to be too hard on yourself if you begin to slip up. We are often our own worst critics, so this is a reminder that it is perfectly okay if you don’t achieve all the goals you set for 2021. It’s going to be a great year!
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