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new year resolution
It's time to decide what you want to change about yourself for the better next year. There's something so powerful about putting it down on paper
The end of the year is upon us and almost behind us. Ahead is a new year and a clean slate. For most people, it's a time for family and celebration.
New Year's resolutions are something I grew up with and something that's very ingrained in American culture. It's that moment when you decide what you want to change about yourself for the better next year.
It's so easy to tell yourself what you're going to do, but there's something so powerful about putting it down on paper.
New Year's resolutions are like setting a road map to where you want to go in life. Without a compass point to aim at, it's hard to get anywhere. You could say that life is all predetermined, and that kind of planning is useless. It’s true, though, that we have more control over our lives than we think—like deciding whether or not to down a bottle of vodka a few times a week. So for those of you who believe in willpower, read on.
Big Goals Are Impossible Without Discipline
There are many ways to break New Year’s resolutions, but most of them are about setting goals to achieve something. Here’s what my New Year’s resolutions look like (not in order of importance). I usually make them a week after the new year, in a quiet place when no one is around.
1. Business/Work. This is where I outline the tasks and things I want to accomplish. Sometimes it’s best to set one big goal for the whole year, but it can also be helpful to set goals for each quarter.
2. Finances. I suggest mapping out what you’re determined to do and how you’re going to save money for it. What do you need to do it? How much can you save? What will you need to do to achieve this? Do you need to change careers? Will you spend your extra income on education?
3. Lifestyle. What kind of lifestyle do you want for yourself? Here’s an example of what I wrote down last year:
— Put my phone on airplane mode at night;
— Clear all notifications from every app and social platform I use;
— Meditate for 10 minutes every morning, 6 days a week;
— Take short breaks during work to clear your head;
— Face your fears and resist them as you go through them.
This is all very personal, so add what resonates with you.
4. Health/Fitness. Think about what you would like to do to stay in shape. A 10-minute yoga routine every morning can make you feel special.
5. Nutrition. Want to feel better? This is determined by what you eat and drink. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, so experiment to find what works best for you.
6. Self-Development/Learning. How do you want to grow this year? What books can help you? Are there any programs that can help you and help you grow? (Be careful not to go overboard with passive learning that doesn’t lead to any action.) Feel free to include something personal here. For example, last year I wrote in big bold letters: knowing that what I think is who I am. Just realizing this can have a major impact on your life.
7. Family. Family dynamics can vary. Some are healthy, some are not. If your relationship is not healthy, how can you set boundaries that allow you to be less involved in family drama? Write down some goals in this section that will help you improve.
8. Relationships. If you are in a relationship, what would you like to improve or stop there? If you are looking for a partner, write down what exactly you would like to see in this person and what exactly you do not want.
9. Long-term future goals. This section can be tricky because no one knows how things will turn out. But if you have some big goals in your life that will take some time to achieve, this is the place for them. For example, you want to have your own apartment in 5 years. Or you want to get a black belt in karate. When I was younger, I always wanted to travel. I decided to work hard and not spend much for 2 years so that I could go to Europe and travel for a certain period of time.
10. Related Thoughts. Don’t be afraid to be honest and introspective with this one. Is there an overall purpose to how you live your life? Who do you want to become? Who do you want to be to others?
My own New Year’s resolutions have more points than I’ve listed here, but if this is something new for you, this is a good model to start with. Feel free to change some of the points if something else suits you. After all, this is a self-guided guide.
I’m not saying I’ve done all of my resolutions last year, but I’ve managed most of them. It takes discipline. And if you haven’t learned to be disciplined yet, put it on your list and think about how to develop that skill. Because without discipline, big goals are impossible.
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