HAPPY NEW YOU- New Year Resolutions

By Monica Gokaldas

 

Each year end or beginning of a New Year many of us start exchanging notes about each other’s New Year Resolutions.  While some of us achieve our targeted goals nearly 88% goals fail (statistics: University of Sydney Coaching Psychology Unit). Most New Year goals fall by wayside after just a month owing to lack of planning or a readiness for long term changes. This implies that we need to look into the way the targets are set.

One way of setting targets would be to look back on past 2 or 5 or 10 years of one’s personal or professional life and realize what has been lacking. This may guide someone to seriously target those goals to revitalize the life threads. One may even do the opposite and look into one’s life as one would want to be after 2 or 5 or 10 years which may serve as a basic guide for target setting. The idea is – either you forget the past or learn from the past and use the opportunity for betterment. Look at what are you proud of, what do you look up at and what would you want to be in the years ahead.

Targets may be set, resolutions may be made but all this gets effective only with a conscious effort when one wishes to change oneself for the better. This conscious effort of self-betterment may in fact result in a better society in the long run. If a self-centered target is tough to maintain then people could form group resolutions (which is easier to chase) to make a difference to the environment or to the planet.

Some of these very simple conscious resolutions would be:

We will not use plastic straws or any other single use plastic.

We will avoid using disposable packaging wherever and whenever possible.

We will plant X number of trees each week/month/festival

We will support (select any needy organization) a cause this year.

We will reduce TV watching time by an hour (or more)

We will take up a sport activity together.

Another way of looking at the resolutions would be by making oneself accountable by dreaming reasonable instead of dreaming big. If reading a book a month is not easy then set the target for reading a new book every two months. If learning a new language seems far-fetched then begin with trying to master the common phrases of the language and it might be achievable. Being realistic in goal setting for self-improvement may eventually lead one to the bigger dream flawlessly with lesser effort.

Resolutions may also be designed towards one’s fitness, positivity, enhanced family life and the society in general which can improve the quality of life. Making a list of 3 activities or places that bring joy to you and vowing to take up one every week or every other week may seem easy to chase up. Similarly making a list of 3 activities or habits that you hate and vowing to give up at least one of them for every alternative week may finally help you to get rid of those habits eventually. At least one could be realistic about the list and help oneself achieving the target.

Some self-betterment resolutions would be:

I will stay off social media for an hour every day (Choose your time slot and stick to it)

I will bring happiness in someone’s life every week.

I will bring a smile to someone’s face every day.

I will volunteer for a social activity every month.

I will read something inspiring twice a week.

I will learn a new skill every three months.

I will try to live the present moment.

I will smile more often.

I will choose happiness instead of chasing it.

I will take my lunch break daily.

I will learn to delegate.

I will eat better, not less.

I will not commit to do things that I can’t do.

I will learn to say No when I should.

I will meditate every Sunday.

I will be grateful. I will appreciate others.

With these positive resolutions that act more as affirmations it is very possible to live up to a bigger list of resolutions and pave way for a better you. You can claim to be a Happy New You in the Happy New Year.