New Year’s Resolutions: Tips

Welcome back!

2018 is here at last, and after taking a week off from blogging over the holiday season I’m back and ready to kick off the New Year with a very predictable post about New Year’s resolutions.

While I realise that a post like this might have been more beneficial at the end of 2017, I personally don’t believe “New Year’s resolutions” need to be made by New Years Day to be effective, important or to… well, count. Here are some of the things I try to bear in mind when I decide to partake in the tradition of making these resolutions:

1. Don’t Take On Too Much

There’s always a temptation to try to change absolutely everything at New Years. Lists of 10 seem nice and round and we might feel the urge to try to make as many resolutions as  can… surely that will make the coming year the best possible one, right? Well, no. At least for me, it’s a no. Starting the year off by taking on too much just seems to set me up for disappointment and guilt. It’s okay to just select one or two things you want to try to achieve – if that. If you don’t want to make New Year’s resolutions, remember that you don’t have to make any at all. It’s entirely down to whatever makes you the most comfortable and whatever you think you’ll benefit from the most.

2. Avoid Listing Your Flaws

While we should always strive to improve ourselves, resolutions don’t necessarily have to be about “fixing” what you think is wrong with yourself. Resolutions don’t have to be getting rid of bad things, but can be about adopting new good habits or hobbies. For me, forcing myself to focus on the negative aspects of myself alone can be seriously detrimental to my mental health. That being said, I definitely mean avoid focusing on flaws that really aren’t that much of a problem. If you want to make a resolution to be kinder, or not to gossip so much, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. Just make sure that your resolution is helping you to grow in some way if it is something along these lines.

3. Start Immediately

Try to make your resolutions things that you can put into effect or adopt as soon as possible. I find that if I don’t begin something soon after deciding it, I’ll end up putting it off for way to long. For New Year’s resolutions, I try to start within the first week of January. If it’s something you can start on the first day, even better. One example of this would be working on a project you hope to have completed by the end of the year. Start as you mean to go on, and all that.

4. …But Don’t Rush Yourself

Remember that your resolutions don’t have to be completed as soon as possible just because they’re started as soon as possible. Take as much time as you need and take satisfaction from every small step you take towards reaching your goal. You’ll learn and grow just as much on the journey (if not more) than you will by reaching the end. Don’t be disheartened if things aren’t completed or you’re not fully into the swing of things by the end of January. Hell, they don’t even have to be finished by the end of the year.

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These were just a handful of my own personal tips for making New Year’s resolutions, based on my own personal experiences. Like anything else, they might not work for you. Just take your time, figure out what works for you, and make sure that whatever changes you make are changes that are positive.

To finish off, I’m going to share some of my New Year’s resolutions. I’ve found in the past that sharing my goals on here with you guys helps me stick with them.

1. Continue my early morning dog-walks.
2. Complete a full re-draft of A Project.
3. Acquire a new skill: crocheting.

There are more things I hope to achieve in the next year, but I don’t think listing them all right now will be beneficial. For example, there are cosplays I will definitely be working on, so putting them on this list would be pointless. It’s not something I’ll have to make a conscious effort to do – I have a con in July and they’ll have to be done by then!

What are your tips for making New Year’s resolutions? What resolutions have you made? Do you make any at all?

Until next time, happy new year!

-K

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