Happy 2019! It's a new year, another chance to "get it right" (if we're quoting Oprah). It's time for New Year's resolutions and new opportunities. Despite the fact that most of those resolutions won't last longer than a month, we're confident that we'll be able to stick at them.
I think most of us feel the pressure to make resolutions. If not because everyone else is doing it, then because, well, it's a new year. We, as a society, have decided that that means a fresh start, a blank slate, endless possibilities and boundless optimism. Everything's bright, everyone's hopeful. We're choosing optimism. We're choosing hope. We are, essentially, giving ourselves a second chance. There's just something so dazzling about the idea of starting over.
I have always made resolutions. But I've rarely keep them. I've lost motivation, or the excitement of the new year wears off. I want to change that. Serious resolutions can make a difference, and I think they're a great way to make positive changes in your life.
This post is all about ways to keep and achieve resolutions. It's for me, and it's for you. I hope you find it encouraging and useful!
Don't just keep your resolutions to yourself. If you're serious about them, tell someone. Tell your best friend, or your mom. Find out each other's resolutions and make an effort to encourage each other.
If someone else knows about your resolutions and how important they are, you'll feel accountable. For example, I've told my Mum that one of my resolutions is to spend less time on social media. I've asked her to point it out if she sees me on my phone for long periods of time, and I'm even going to hand my phone over to her for part of the day.
Write. Those. Resolutions. Down. Better yet, write them in colour and pin them up where you'll see them every day. Choose a place where they're visible and vibrant and screaming at you to listen.
If you see them everyday, they should stick in your mind. And why not add inspirational quotes or images alongside them? If your goal is to eat less junk food, pin up some encouraging quotes to keep you motivated. You could even make an aesthetic mood board!
Don't swear off sugar and then after going a week without sugar reward yourself with ice-cream. That's not gonna make you feel good!
But
rewards can be beneficial and provide you with incentive to keep going. Just choose them carefully. If you're not eating junk food anymore, then once a month - or less frequently - buy yourself something you've been wanting; like a notebook, or an item of clothing, or, since you're probably a book blogger, BUY A BOOK! That's not chocolate or something that'll vanish within a few minutes. It's a worthwhile purchase.
If you don't want to spend money, then reward yourself in some other way: maybe watch Netflix for a few hours, instead of cleaning the house, or meet up with friends. Make small life decisions that'll reap big rewards.
Consider the "why" behind every resolution you make. It will help you realise the importance of keeping them, and whether or not they're valid reasons to change your way of life.
So you want to eat less junk food. Why? Make sure you know
why you want to make this change, and keep the benefits (if indeed there are any) in mind so that you're inspired to stick with it. Don't be sad that you'll have to cut out chocolate; be excited about buying healthy alternative foods, like nuts or berries, and if you wanna be extreme about it, google the unhealthy affects of chocolate so you're inspired to stay away from it ;)
If your resolution is to be more productive with your time, think of all the productive things you could get done if you keep this resolution. Think of the book you could finally write, or the people you could see, or the extra money you could make.
My point is:
be purposeful about your resolutions. Do your research
. Don't make a resolution and drag your feet; choose something that you know will make you feel better, and allow the excitement to outweigh the reluctance.
In the end, this is your resolution. Ultimately, it's your decision to keep going. It might take hard work, it will definitely take effort and self discipline, and that's part of making new year's resolutions!
Embrace the challenge. The only one standing in the way of you is you. Cheesy, I know, but there is a point in that saying.
In the end, you don't need a new year to make resolutions. If you mess up, start again from the next month. Don't beat yourself up about it.
What are some of your 2019 resolutions? Are you confident you'll be able to keep them?!
