At the start of every year, many people like to make promises to themselves. They vow to lose the extra weight, make more money, or be more organized. But most of the time, these New Year’s resolutions fall through the cracks, not even a couple of months into the year.
It’s not your fault if you have trouble keeping your resolutions. New Year’s resolutions can sometimes set you up for failure because they’re vague and not actionable. It might be time for a new strategy in 2023.
Here are some alternatives to New Year’s resolutions you can try.
Do 30-Day Challenges
With 30-day challenges, you set a small goal you can achieve within a month. They come with specific actions you must perform daily to help you reach your goal. An example would be a 30-day decluttering challenge. You must choose three items to sell, donate, or throw away daily. By the end of the month, your space will be free of 90 items.
You can choose to do a 30-day challenge every month. That way, you can achieve 12 small goals by the end of the year. That’s a massive improvement from having one resolution and not knowing how to go about it.
List Down Everything You’re Looking Forward to in the New Year
Resolutions can put a lot of pressure on you, especially when you don’t know how to make the necessary changes. Instead of stressing yourself out, you can list the things you’re looking forward to in the coming year. It’s an effective way to counter pessimism and feel more excited for what’s to come. It’ll also put you in a more inspired and productive mindset.
The items on your list don’t have to be big things. They can be as simple as an anticipated movie or book release, a new restaurant opening in your area, or a friend visiting you.
Track and Measure Parts of Your Life
Instead of making generic resolutions, decide which parts of your life you can track or measure. It can help you gain insight into good and bad habits, allowing you to make the necessary changes.
For instance, you can keep a log of what you eat, how much you spend, or how much time you spend on social media. You might realize that you eat too many sweets or spend too much time scrolling on your phone. Once you notice these patterns, you can set limits for yourself and build better habits.
Practice Gratitude
Instead of forcing change, you can take the days as they are and be grateful. Practicing gratitude comes with various benefits. It can reduce stress and anxiety, help you feel more energized, and improve sleep. When you’re in a good mindset, positive changes will come naturally.
An effective way to build the habit of gratitude is by keeping a gratitude journal. You can also make it a family habit to share something you’re grateful for during meals.
Focus on One Word
You can use a single word to guide you throughout the year. It’s a simple strategy but can bring about powerful changes. To determine your theme, list everything you want for the coming year. See if there are any patterns and if you can summarize everything in a word.
The word “joy” can help you find the positive side to any situation. Meanwhile, “discipline” can give you the push you need to accomplish tasks. “Flourish” can motivate you to grow through the challenges.
The Bottom Line
The intentions behind New Year’s resolutions are good, but there are more effective ways to create change. For more information, contact Action Coach Lincoln at 402-587-6329.