Do New Year’s Resolutions really work, or are you just setting yourself up to fail?
Most will agree that the last few years have been pretty tough; COVID has not yet gone, interest rates, house prices and mortgage costs are issues, China USA relationships have been better, Russia Ukraine and Israel Palestine are all concerns, unstable politics everywhere. Some have lost loved ones, their jobs, or remain unfulfilled; yet we have to continue, survive, move on, or ideally flourish.
I have written about resolutions in the past, based on talking to dozens of people, concluding that many talk about them, few make them, and even fewer expect to keep them. Those that don’t keep them end up feeling underachieved and disappointed with themselves.
A resolution can be defined as a “firm decision to do or not to do something”. It is like setting a goal, which might not always be realistically achievable. Let us then talk about personal intentions instead; most agreed it is more effective to take on board some ideas to make yourself feel better and commit to them, then Here are some top tips for you to choose from:
Career:
1. Follow something that makes you happy, what you feel passionate about, and throw your heart into it; give it a chance and never stop learning.
2. Make time for a project and complete it; make it happen.
3. Set yourself a goal at work; something to overachieve at, and be proud of, no matter how large or small.
4. Make a promise to spoil yourself when you achieve something outrageously out of reach and tell no-one.
5. Identify a coach, or a mentor, and agree how you can work together to help you stretch, and achieve whatever it is you are looking for.
Wellbeing:
6. Stop thinking about dieting and getting fit; just eat more fruit and vegetables, drink litres of water and find a friend to go to the gym with or run with.
7. Twice a week, walk somewhere, get off a stop or two early, or simply leave the car at home for the day.
8. For every unit of alcohol, count to 10 before texting anyone, and if it is an Ex (-partner, -colleague, -friend, -boss) count to 100 for each unit you have already had!
9. Tidy up, put things away, clear out that closet and those drawers, organise your books, choose a few to read, or read again, and donate the rest.
10. If it doesn’t fit, or you haven’t worn it for a year, or it was never comfortable in the first place, get rid of it, donate it to a charity. (Exceptions are ski gear and gym kit… Take it for a run and one last try…) and always have 5 outfits that make you feel good about yourself.
Friendship:
11. Revisit places from your childhood that were memorable, whether it’s the pool you learned to swim in, the beach where you made your first sandcastle or the school you met your first BFF. Go somewhere new, or do something you have never done before.
12. Look up and reconnect with 5 people who made a positive difference in your life and share your memories with them.
13. Delete anyone that sends you Candy Crush invites, ever made you cry more than once, or hurt someone you love.
14. Take a 24-hour break from social media and always switch off your phone at the dining table.
15. Frame at least 3 family photos, treat your parents to dinner, ask your grandparents about their life and call 3 people you kept saying you would, but never did.
Personal:
16. Sing in the shower, dance around the kitchen, laugh as much as you can and do something for only YOURSELF.
17. Have humility; give blood, volunteer at a centre, donate to charity and give others less fortunate a chance; buy a present for someone for no reason at all; pay it forward.
18. When you get an invite (Wedding, College reunion, Black tie Ball) actually make the effort to go. Learn to dance, make the first move, always have 5 jokes to tell and don’t be afraid of laughing out loud.
19. Tell those that you love that you love them. Don’t be afraid to tell someone you think they are beautiful and don’t ever go to bed angry with yourself.
20. Cry when you want to, but don’t be afraid to ask for help; you don’t have to carry it all on your own, but seek support when you need it.
21. Surround yourself with positive people, not those that suck the oxygen away from your fire of life.
And for those of us who are not that young anymore; celebrate the grey, and the knowledge and experiences that comes with it, the wrinkles and laughter lines were earned and enjoy where they came from.
Lead others with your life experience, the learnings that made you what you are now and pay it forward.
“Seek those that fan your flames” Rumi.
Simon Crockett
Founder and Head Coach
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