NEW YEAR, NEW ME
Following Through Your New Year’s Resolutions
By Hiranmayii Awli Mohanan
As we bid adieu to the turbulent year of 2020 and brace ourselves for the New Year, it’s that time again when we set goals and resolutions to be better. Most of the time, the enthusiasm we have when setting these goals tend to dissipate and eventually, our resolutions fall through by mid-year. This is where we come in. We have curated some tips and tricks to hold you accountable to your resolutions and most importantly, help you follow through.
#1 PICK REALISTIC GOALS
Instead of picking an extensive area of your life to change, pick one realistic goal, be it small or big. This gives you assurance and the confidence that you’re able to follow through your resolution. Choosing a concrete, achievable goal gives you the opportunity to plan your method of executing your goal throughout the year. For example, you want to avoid setting resolutions like hiking up Mount Kinabalu when you haven’t hiked a day in your life. A more realistic resolution would be to hike up Bukit Gasing, an easier and achievable goal.
#2 TAKE BABY STEPS
Take it one step at a time. Making a drastic change is one of the common reasons why many New Year’s resolutions tend to fail. Instead of dramatically cutting your calories and start working out 2 hours a day at the gym, start small and work your way up. For example, if you’re one who eats rice everyday in the week, try reducing it to 5 days in a week and reducing your portion. Once you’re comfortable, at your own pace, reduce the rice intake even further.
#3 LEARN FROM PAST MISTAKES
If you know a resolution in the past didn’t work out for you, choose a different one. If you do end up choosing the same resolution, analyse the past results to determine an effective strategy and the impediments that kept you from achieving your resolution. By changing your approach, you are likely to see real results this new year.
#4 REAL CHANGE TAKES TIME
Our mind is like a rubber band you can stretch it temporarily but it snaps back to a resting position. We resist change. So, to adopt a new ‘you’, or change a habit, you must take your time, work through foundational struggles and allow your body and mind to adapt to a new equilibrium over time.
#5 GET SUPPORT FROM YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY
Who better to lean on and to help motivate you than your family and friends? Having someone cheer you on is the biggest motivator and will help you stay accountable and in result, see your resolution through. For example, if your New Year’s resolution is to be healthier and more active, get a friend to do the deed with you.
#6 SETBACKS ARE PART OF THE PROCESS
Setbacks are part of the journey to self-betterment and you shouldn’t feel demotivated by these. Adopt an optimistic perspective and keep moving forward. If you find yourself suddenly relapsing into old habits, don’t take it as a failure, rather, journal about it. You might find it helpful to note information about when the relapse occurred and what could be the trigger factors. By comprehending the challenges you face, you will be better prepared to deal with them in the future.
#7 PLAN REWARDS
Another tip to follow through your resolution is to plan small rewards to keep yourself motivated and to get through the hard days. After that, you can probably reward yourself once a week with a magazine, a call to a supportive friend, a siesta, a movie binge or whatever your vices may be. Eventually, the rewards can be monthly and towards the final leg of the journey you can pick an anniversary reward for keeping to your resolution you have earned it.