SETTING YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION
At the start of every year, we set new goals for ourselves to reach new horizons and make positive changes to our lives. I think we’ve all rolled off our tongue the words “New Year, New me” at some stage. The new year often has us feeling like we have a fresh start and we become more motivated than ever to fulfill our New Year’s resolution. But how do we set ourselves a new goal that will we actually aim to achieve?
A lot of the times, people set unrealistic goals. Even though they seem exciting to start with, you soon realise it is too difficult for you to work towards and shortly stop altogether. Here are a few common new resolutions to get you thinking about your 2020 goals.
Improve your health and fitness
A common goal most people set themselves is to get fit and exercise more. Whilst these are great goals, try to make them specific so they are more achievable. Things like join a gym in January, exercise 3 times a week or go for a 30 minute walk every day are more achievable goals. Try to track and measure your progress to help keep you motivated towards smashing your health goals.
Eat Better
Every year, you may aim to stop eating junk food, say no to that cookie addiction or cut out those soft drinks. Does it work?
It’s hard to change our diet over night, especially trying to cut out those delicious desserts filled with sugary goodness we’ve become so accustomed to. Instead, why not set yourself the task of gradually cutting out and reducing your consumption of these foods. If you’re someone who eats take-away almost every day of the week, you could reduce it to three times a week, then to two, one and eventually only consume take-away on a rare occasion. This will help you better reach your healthy eating goals, with will also save you a couple of dollars in the process.
Even though this may seem hard to achieve at first, remember to set yourself a challenging goal that will push you to achieve it and stick to it.
Travel
Travel goals are one of my favourites! Among such a busy year, planning for a holiday ahead of time can help you stay more productive during the year and give you something exciting to look forward to.
This was my 2019 goal- to travel to new destinations, be spontaneous and more adventurous. In December 2018, I booked a five and a half week trip to Europe for July 2019 with my sister and this was completely out of my comfort zone. From someone who rarely traveled, only been to Singapore, Bali and within Australia, this was a scary yet exciting decision. Having been through this experience, trying new things and exploring new places, I came back with the ‘travel bug’ and can’t wait to book my next trip! Who said it can’t be my 2020 goal?
Get Organised
The year escapes us so quickly! So, why not set yourself the goal of getting more organised for the year ahead. Some great ways to get and keep organised in 2020 are:
Have a diary: If you’re anything like me, I always buy myself a hard copy diary and write my schedules in there as well as in my phone calendar. This is a great back up in case something happens to my phone. Whether you use a hard copy, digital or both, it’s a great way to keep track of your busy schedule and make sure you don’t miss a thing.
To Do Lists: Do you use a to-do list? Writing down what you want to achieve for the day and allocating time for each activity can help you be productive and efficient. It’s a great way to keep on top of things and stay organised.
Declutter: Whether you have too many clothes in your wardrobe or are hoarding too much in your home, decluttering can take a weight off your shoulders and help you feel fresh for the year. It’s a great way to stay current and organised throughout the year.
Self-Care
Between work, family and life stresses, we sometimes forget to take care of ourselves. For this year, why not allocate some time for self-care and get yourself in the routine of taking care of your mind, body and soul. Practicing meditation, yoga, Pilates or even undertaking something relaxing like reading a book, going for a walk or cooking for some people can be a form of self-care.
Socialising
Who doesn’t love going out for some nibbles and catching up with friends and family over a drink? If your New Year’s Resolution is to spend more time with your friends and family, here are a few tips:
Start small: Organising a catch up everyday will probably make you stressed and extremely tired, not to mention broke! Organise catch ups that are manageable for your lifestyle and schedule, whether that is once a week or once a fortnight that you do a catch up. This obviously depends on your schedule, so you will be able to work out the right balance between work, rest and social for you.
Book it in advance: Time has a habit of escaping us. To make sure you continue with your plans, organise your catch ups in advance.
Remember not to be too hard on yourself if you stray away from your goal. If you fall a bit of track, just get back on and keep going.
Let us know your New Year’s Resolution for 2020 in the comments below.
