The new year is here and you’re excited about the change you have decided to make to your overall health! It’s important to start somewhere and it’s important to feel motivated about improving your quality of life.Unfortunately, the new year resolution notion is done in an unrealistic way and when we do not meet the unrealistic expectation, we feel like we failed. So how should we set ourselves up for success?
Step 1: Set a realistic goal.
Everyone wants to feel like they are succeeding in life and making the most of their time. We want to lose weight, dig into our unresolved trauma and be financially free. I’m using these examples as they are the ones that I frequently hear client’s share. I’m not saying they are impossible but it is most definitely unrealistic to think that they will all be completed in one year. Perhaps it will take more time. Perhaps we should focus on one of these issues at a time. For example, we all know that weight loss is a mental struggle as much as it is a physical struggle. I would argue that it is more mental than physical in most cases. In order to change our weight we have to change the way we eat. Eating is often a mental struggle as some people eat as a coping mechanism or don’t eat enough and much more.
The same can be said about the desire to be financially free and unresolved trauma. These types of goals need to be taken with time and true consideration. Being financially free takes many sacrifices such as going out less, eating out less, and perhaps living on a very strict budget. Many Americans work 9-5 jobs and some have families to attend to which leaves little time or mental energy to be super strict with the meal planning and budgeting that is required to be financially free. However, if this is the only goal for the year, then perhaps that would be much more attainable and less mentally draining.
Step 2: Prepare yourself mentally.
So, it is important to be realistic about these types of goals. It is important to consider all aspects of your life currently. Take into consideration all the reasons why you are choosing to lose weight or what is leading you to want to start to want to be financially free or any other type of resolution. Consider if the factors are genuinely helpful motives and prioritize their importance on your progress and if they are not much help, consider redefining the decision and motivation behind any particular resolution.
Being mentally prepared for the new year is the best thing to do when we set our goals. Take inventory of your past year and focus on how you felt throughout the year. Evaluate the mindset that helped you achieve one of your goals and see if you can replicate it. Mental health is important and can be the deciding factor of ultimately attaining the best quality of life.
