New Year's Resolutions

As we ring in yet another new year, resolutions are being discussed non-stop on social media. However, watching someone else's goals doesn't mean yours must be the same. It's a great way to get inspired, but only bite off what you can chew. The idea of becoming a better version of yourself and setting unrealistic expectations seems good in the moment, but what happens when you put too much on your plate? Becoming a "better person" as a New Year's resolution is a toxic standard to expect because you're telling yourself that you need to be better and that the current version of yourself is not good enough.

The one thing I've never understood about New Year's is why people put so much pressure on themselves to achieve everything within a month; it's ok to save some of your goals for later in the year so that you don't overwhelm yourself. It is important to set realistic and achievable goals; if you set a goal for yourself that you will be in a relationship by a specific time, that might not happen because it's not something you can control. Drinking more water and taking up a new hobby are examples of small goals to start with. Start small and work your way toward an endgame.

Some ideas to achieve your goal are to be picky and specific. Being specific will help you understand how to get what you want. Another idea is logging your progress so that you can look back at what you've accomplished. For example, say you wanted to exercise more. If you don't frequently work out, you need to build up a tolerance. Set a realistic monthly plan, follow a fitness program or work with a personal trainer. Having someone to hold you accountable for your goals will also help you stay on track and tell you when to slow down or challenge yourself more.

New Year's resolutions are a great way to feel motivated, but having goals for yourself should be all year round. It's important to accept that resolutions take time and commitment to become habits, so don't rush through them within the first few months; they're not going anywhere.