Too Many Resolutions?!

Most driven individuals make New Year's Resolutions, right?

This is about the time of year - Day 10 or so - that people serious about their goals begin to evaluate them.  If they're good goals, they deserve a second glance.  If you can't remember them, they probably were not as important.  I use New Year's as an excuse to better myself, but you don't have to start on January 1st (or November like I do).  You can start today.  Or on your birthday, or some other day with less added pressure if that takes some anxiety away for you.  I've developed a few tricks that help keep me on track.  If they have helped me, maybe they can help you too.

Hint #1: It's all in your attitude!

Does following our list make us better people?  Does giving up on our resolutions make us worse for not following through with them?

I often think about this, as many of us do, when we realize that the gym seems just a bit more full in January.  The truth is: IT DOESN'T MAKE YOU ANY "BETTER" OR "WORSE" IF YOU SET RESOLUTIONS.

Hint #2: It doesn't matter when you start, as long as you set a date.

That said, I'm one of the weird ones.  I usually begin my "New Year's Resolutions" in November, as a sort of "trial run" not "putting things off until tomorrow that you can do today," as my mother would say.  For the past couple of years, this has been a great plan.  When I think up my resolutions, I start to follow them within a week.  However, most people are not that way.  In 2014, a friend taught me that sometimes making too many New Year's Resolutions, or being too strict or uptight about them is actually a BAD thing.  He was right.  They made me stressed; so I adapted.

Hint #3: Don't be a drill sergeant; be a cheerleader!

Last year, I decided that I would get a new job, limit myself to 1 alcoholic beverage per day (2 on special occasions), I would limit my television watching to 2 hours/week, practice yoga 3x/week, and the list goes on with similar rigidity/specificity.  Do you see the pattern?  It's designed to either make me very structured and uptight or fail.  I actually made it until May following my regimented list of resolutions, but you know what?  That made me feel more accomplished than "failing" would.  I had already done what I needed to do.  I gained 2 new fulfilling jobs, moved into my first non-university apartment, proved to myself that I could stick to some pretty strict structure for 6 months, and became more active.  However, I realized that I actually drank more (about every other night compared to the once/week in 2013), and I was stressing myself out sometimes trying to stick to the strict routine.  Now, I'm not saying to forget your resolutions altogether; acknowledging your goals & dreams is wonderful and inspiring!  Setting attainable, specific goals is admirable.  I'm merely advising you to analyze them a little if you are serious about them.  No matter whether you're like me and make an extra long specific list, or you'd rather not change a thing, setting attainable goals for yourself and not judging yourself for completing them the way you originally imagined can't hurt.  Hopefully you can learn from my mistakes.  Which brings me to the final hint:

Hint #4: Do, then adapt!

Really, there are three steps involved here: Set resolutions. Follow through (with a kind, judgement - free attitude).  Reassess (again, without observations as opposed to harsh judgments).

My modified trick as far as resolutions go is to create a "sticky note" on my computer - I LOVE the digital sticky notes - with a list of Resolutions.  I advise you to actually look at them at least once/month (maybe more in the beginning to solidify your resolve to accomplish them).  If they no longer serve you, toss or modify them so that they do.  If you need structure, setting quantifiable goals (# of hours/days/times you would like to do things) is great in the beginning to help set you on course.  Remember, this is all designed to make sure you build up to a routine that you can manage without added stress, so adapt if you need to.  Your personality will dictate a lot of this.  Nobody has to know that you didn't "exercise every day," but it will make you feel better if you make an effort (whatever that means for you) to be active.  You know it will.  So, I'm sure you had some derivation of this on your list.  Stop reading already & get outside (or to the gym or whatever it is that you aspire to do this year)!

Message of the day: Set attainable goals.  Recognize that they will change along with you.  Adapt!

...Or don't.  It won't change my reality.  Cheers!