26/12/2023
How are you preparing for a positive start to the upcoming New Year? As 2023 comes to a close, it’s a natural time to reflect on the past 12 months, assessing goals achieved, new aspirations, and the evolution of plans as our perspectives shifted throughout the year.
Regardless of how 2023 unfolded for you, now is the perfect moment to turn your gaze forward and establish the foundation for a fulfilling New Year. In the following article, we’ll explore various practical and mental strategies to ensure you enter January with the right mindset.
Get a Head Start on the New Year
Perhaps you’re considering the approaching holiday season as a brief respite, a chance to rejuvenate your previous New Year’s resolutions. By now, you may have realised that coercing change is ineffective. Regardless of how you spend the final days of the year, it’s crucial to jumpstart your goals, making them attainable, realistic, and personally enriching.
Creating a Game Plan
The initial step toward setting realistic expectations involves identifying your desires and crafting a plan that seamlessly integrates into your existing routines. Ultimately, the aim is to instigate a change that propels you toward your goals.
This can be accomplished by documenting the steps or using tools like calendars to monitor progress. Regardless of your chosen method, consider the following:
Identify strengths and weaknesses when formulating or re-establishing goals.
Reflect on your current capabilities and what aspects you wish to carry forward from the past year.
Recognise goals that haven’t proven effective and identify potential obstacles.
Once you’ve discerned what works, start documenting or verbalising these goals.
Share your objectives with trusted individuals who can help keep you accountable.
Assess your available resources; leverage apps, calendars, or notes to organise and set reminders for staying on track.
New Year, Same Me
Many people dismiss the tradition of making New Year resolutions, often aiming to change aspects of themselves they dislike or wish to improve. This approach contributes to a high failure rate for resolutions.
Changing personal attributes and behaviours requires considerable effort, determination, and perseverance, exceeding the simplicity of returning a borrowed item. While it’s possible to adopt new, healthy habits in the New Year, fixating on the concept of a “new me” often sets the stage for disappointment. Instead of replacing attitudes or goals, consider focusing on improving and building upon your existing capabilities.