In theory, New Year’s resolutions are wonderfully positive ideas that give you the chance to improve yourself. The resolutions aren’t always associated with health, but they do typically relate to positive change in your life. Essentially, the goal is to turn over a new leaf, which has a different meaning for every person. Some people want to sleep more or eat out less often, while others want to spend more time with family or take up a new hobby. The most important takeaway is that you shouldn’t set too many goals at once, or make unrealistic resolutions.
More often than not, New Year’s resolutions are lofty goals that are unattainable. There’s no reason to set yourself up for failure, yet this is a common practice. Read 75 books by June? No problem. Lose 20 pounds within the first two weeks of January? Done deal. Eliminate all of your debt? Perfectly attainable. Well, life is unpredictable and you can’t always complete everything you set out to accomplish within the set time frame.
Consider the fact that about 80% of people who set resolutions fail by the second week of February. Lofty resolutions put undue stress on you and it’s easier to give up than spend time stressing about the goals. That’s why setting realistic goals is a more sensible approach to New Year’s resolutions. Continue reading to learn about realistic resolutions you can accomplish in 2022.
Do One New Thing Every Month
When you do too much too fast, you can crash and burn easily. Instead of tackling everything at once, take things as slowly as you want. The real purpose behind a New Year’s resolution is to progress forward. There’s nothing wrong with doing that at your own pace. Set a goal each month to do something that you’ve never done before. Eat at a new restaurant, start a garden, go to a pottery class, or paint an accent wall in your home. No matter how small or big, you’ll be able to say that you tried 12 new things at the end of the year.
Try A New Recipe Each Week
It’s never a bad idea to add more recipes to your collection. Rather than ordering takeout, set aside one day out of the week to make a new recipe. Not only do you save money by cooking at home, but you also know exactly what goes into the meal. Trying new recipes each week also helps to fine tune your cooking skills. You may love one recipe so much that you do a deep dive into that cuisine and come away with a long list of new favorites.
Focus, Don’t Fix It
So many people want to fix things in their lives that they may not like. It’s better to focus on positivity than to try and fix negative aspects. For example, if you appreciate art, commit to going to the museum once a month. Alternatively, buy one canvas a month and paint something. Consider a paint night or drawing class with friends to help focus your attention on more artistic endeavors.
Do Your Small Part For The Environment
There’s no need to live a zero-waste life when the New Year rolls around, but it’s possible to contribute to environmental change. Take baby steps as you move through the year. Carry reusable tote bags to the grocery store or recycle cans and plastic bottles. Instead of buying plastic water bottles, invest in a water filter and reusable water bottle that you refill throughout the day. This helps to cut down on plastic waste.
Change Your Look
Losing weight may fall under this umbrella, but you don’t have to do that to change up your look. Fitness resolutions tend to fail because most people don’t see results as quickly as they want. Progress comes after weeks and weeks of putting in the work! There are, however, other ways to change up your look and see instant results. You can dye or cut your hair, get a tattoo, try out a new beard style, or even wear new, bold-colored clothing. Try out new styles and see how you like them!
Say No
The art of saying no is truly a skill that takes time to perfect. According to research, people who set boundaries are much better at managing their mental health. Setting boundaries can include leaving work on time, prioritizing non-work activities, practicing meditation, or declining invitations so as not to overwhelm yourself. Learning to say no is more powerful than saying yes. You don’t need to overextend yourself and burn out! Say no to some things in life in the New Year and you’ll find that your mental health benefits.
