Choosing A Mindful New Year's Resolution

HOW DO YOU WANT TO FEEL IN THE NEW YEAR?

By Kristina Benoist

It’s a great feeling knowing that the new year can be like hitting a reset button on your life.

While that’s an exciting idea, reality can get in the way. New Year’s resolutions can be the biggest mountain you set yourself up to climb each year — and it can be hard to get to the top. Maybe you’re really great at sticking with it through January and then you get distracted. Or maybe you never even start because you keep waiting for a new week to begin.

Sometimes, we’re simply not ready for the goals we set for ourselves. What if your resolution is to get to the gym six days a week, but you’re struggling to get out of bed every morning? Or what if you want to travel the world in the new year, but going to work each day pushes your anxiety to the limit?

It’s great to have goals that you spend all year working towards, but it can feel defeating to not achieve them. We’re here set you up for success and help you create a lasting, achievable, and beneficial New Year’s resolution that can improve your mental health, rather than drag it down.

Here are some things to think about, write down, or talk through with someone as you’re crafting your New Year’s resolution this year.

Reflect on the past year

First things first - how did your year go? What did you really enjoy? What did you struggle with? Try to think about this without judgement. We know it may be hard, but use this time to simply take inventory.

How do you want to feel?

For your resolution, focus on how you want to feel, rather than what you want to do or accomplish. For example, if you want to exercise more regularly, rather than focusing on a specific number of times you need to go to the gym each week or how long you workout each day, focus on the feeling that you want to achieve from exercising more.

Make a list

Write out everything that first comes to mind about how you want to feel next year. Getting it all out can clear your mind and really get to the heart of what you want to focus on. When it’s all on paper, pick one or two things that are most important to you and that you really want to spend your year working on.

Put it somewhere visible

Once you’ve narrowed things down, write it out and put it next to your bed or somewhere on your phone. Regardless of where it is, make sure it’s something that you see on a regular basis. As you’re writing it down, phrase your resolution in a positive and uplifting tone. Rather than focusing on what you should stop feeling or stop doing, bring your attention towards the good.

Break it up

You have your resolution, but how do you actually make it happen? This is usually where things can fall off the rails. Break it up, and figure out where you want to be at the end of each month or at the end of each season. Remember, we don’t just wake up and our resolution becomes reality, you have to figure out how to make it happen with baby steps.

Check-in with yourself

Resolutions should be about making a change that leads to being a happier, healthier you. Check-in with how you feel and what progress you’re making. It’s easy to get weighed down with what you aren’t doing and what progress you haven’t made. Don’t worry, it’s okay if everything in your resolution isn’t 100% together or going exactly as you planned. The fact that you’re sticking with it is worth celebrating in itself.

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This New Year, there’s an opportunity for you to set an intention and make a positive change in your life. So, what will your resolution be this year?