New Year’s Resolutions – and how to ACTUALLY achieve them!

The end of a calendar year, and the beginning of a new one, can yield mixed emotions. Processing the past year can be overwhelming, all while looking towards the future. Many will create “New Years Resolutions.” The promise of a new beginning, can provide initiative and incentive to achieve goals that may have gone by the wayside in the previous twelve months. With goal-setting, of course, also comes pressure, which can be both negative and positive. While any time is a good time to begin working towards a goal, harnessing the natural momentum created by a “fresh slate” mindset will offer some motivation to reaching whatever your personal goals are. Let’s talk about the ways you can support yourself in achieving those!

Create small attainable goals. If your goal is to improve your mental clarity and practice overall wellness but your steps to get there are cloudy, chances are you are going to be overwhelmed. Instead, focus on the small things you can do daily to work towards your goal. Maybe instead of practicing mindfulness breathing every other day, you give yourself a goal of 2-3 times a week. Instead of expecting yourself to journal daily, you allow yourself to shoot for 3-4 times a week. From there, you can work towards the bigger goals of daily practice.

Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. Give yourself some grace! If your goal is something that is foreign to you, it isn’t going to be easy, but that's why it’s worth it. Allowing yourself to live in the “gray area” of black & white thinking can help you become comfortable with possible bumps or “slumps” in the road. Things take time, and that's okay. Trust the process and try to enjoy the journey. The most important thing to do when you slip up or forget to work on your goal, is to get right back on the horse!

Remind yourself of your “why”. Why do you want to make this change? Who are you doing it for? What might life look like in 3 months if you didn’t make any small changes today? Ask yourself these questions! Journal about them and keep it in a safe space to remind yourself of your WHY when you’re feeling discouraged. If you’re a visual person, use a visual aid placed in a prominent place to remind you of the way you hope to feel when you’ve achieved your goal. Example: if your goal is to spend more time with loved ones, but a photo of your family on your desk by your computer to remind you of the intention that you’ve set.

Enlist the help of others. Change is not easy, which is why it’s often avoided. Talk to your friends and family about the process. Telling people about your intentions will often keep you held accountable. If you are currently seeing a mental health professional, continue bringing up any of your struggles surrounding this change with them.

Finally, remember you are capable! You can and you will be successful. Use positive self talk even if- especially if!- you struggle at first. You create and strengthen neural pathways related to hopeful and expectant optimism each time you engage in positivity towards yourself.

Remember- we’re here for you, and you’ve got this!

Written by: Mikala Coppolella, M.A., NCC, LPCA