January 2022
Happy New Year! Happy New Year!
It’s a New Year and that means it’s resolution time for most people. Some of the resolutions I’ve seen on social media are:
I’m going to lose 25 lbs. this year, save $5000, take a vacation, get into a master’s program, and so many more!
I love resolutions. They’re fun and exciting, what we envision our ideal self could look like. However, I’ve personally found them challenging to live out. Usually there’s little motivation to change after the novelty of the new year wears. Sometimes they can be influenced from wrong perspectives. Google has billions of reasons why resolutions fail.
I’ve decided to shift my thinking to lifestyle changes. Although the process to lifestyle changes isn’t exactly the sexiest, it almost always guarantees measurable results. A lifestyle can be managed, but a resolution without a plan is more like a hopeful wish. Planning or shifting New Year resolutions into lifestyle changes can be simple and fun!
Here are four steps I start with:
Time of Reflection:
I make time to look at old resolutions, goals, and dreams. How have I done in those areas? Are these still things that I want to accomplish? What new things would I like to do or try if my interests have changed? During the time of reflection, it’s important to celebrate things that worked out and to also give myself grace for things that didn’t work out. I pat myself on the back after this. Whew.
Time of Dreaming:
This is my favorite part. This is where I let my ideas flow freely. If I’m having trouble dreaming things up, I break life down into these sections: Fitness, Finances, Family, Career or Field, Friendships, Fun, Faith, etc. I try to think of at least one thing I’d like to see in those areas in the New Year.
Time of Planning:
Planning may be the lengthiest, but most telling and rewarding step. Planning is key to lifestyle changes because it is being extremely intentional with how time in my life is lived. I love planning. Planning unlocked a whole new world for me. I’ve seen positive results from planning. I can’t imagine doing life without planning. During the time of planning, it’s helpful to divide the year into four three-month sections: Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep, Oct-Dec. Each section of the year roughly covers about 90 days. I take 3-5 of the things I’ve dreamed up and schedule them into my life. A great start to adding structure to my goals is to use S.M.A.R.T. goals. For more info on S.M.A.R.T. goals check this link.
Time of Making it Happen:
Seeing your ideas, dreams, and plans start to take off will give you life. Live out what you planned up. Be forgiving. Have fun with it. Get creative. Invite friends in on the process. Have accountability. Take things slow. And most importantly there’s no need to compare your story to anyone else’s. You got this! Lifestyle changes have no expiration date. They can happen extremely fast or take time to develop. Take as much time with each step that you may need. I plan to spend a large portion of the first 90 days reflecting, resting, and creating. 2021 was such a year of dreaming, working, and planning for me. I look forward to building on that this year. 2022 will be one of the best years yet. I wish you the most amazing year ever! I’d love to hear your thoughts on resolutions and lifestyle changes. What has/hasn’t worked for you?