Many of us see the new year as an opportunity to look back at what we have done and look forward to what we want to do in the coming year. Goal setting and making new years’ resolutions are often a part of that process.

Making new year’s resolutions can help motivate you to make positive changes in your life. But feeling pressured to make resolutions, even if you don’t really want to, can lead to setting goals that aren’t meaningful or relevant. This can lead to disappointment and a sense of failure if the goals aren’t achieved.

Some people feel like they don’t have the time or resources to devote to making significant changes in their lives. This can lead to setting unrealistic goals that are hard to achieve. 

Making new years’ resolutions can be a rewarding way to begin setting goals for personal growth. But it’s also important to keep goals realistic and something we can actually achieve. 

Tips for setting goals this new year.

If you’re ready to set some new goals this new year, here are a few tips.

1. Choose specific, achievable goals. For example, instead of resolving to “watch less TV”, try setting a specific goal such as “turn the TV off at 8 pm every evening.”
2. Make a plan to achieve your goals. Think about the specific steps you need to take to reach your goal and make a plan to follow through on those steps. 
3. Focus on just a few goals at a time. It can be tempting to make a long list of things you want to change, but this can derail your good intentions. Try focusing on just a few goals at a time and give yourself time to make small, incremental changes.
4. Don’t go it alone. Seek support from family, friends, or a support group to stay encouraged and motivated.
5. Be kind to yourself. It’s important to remember that setbacks are a normal part of the process of change. Be patient with yourself and remember it’s ok to take a break or adjust your goals if you need to.

Examples of good new years’ goals

Ready to start making those new years’ resolutions but need some inspiration?  Here are a few examples of new years’ goals that can help – mentally, emotionally, and physically:

1. Exercise more regularly: Set a goal to go to the gym a certain number of times per week, or simply commit to being more active in your daily life (e.g., going for a walk or run, taking the stairs instead of the elevator).
2. Eat healthier: This could involve making a commitment to eat more fruits and vegetables, or cutting back on unhealthy foods like processed snacks and sugary drinks.
3. Read more: Make a plan read a certain number of books in the year, or simply make a commitment to carve out more time for reading on a regular basis.
4. Learn a new skill: This could be anything from learning a new language to taking up a new hobby. Is there something you’ve always wanted to learn? Now could be the time!
5. Reduce stress: Make a commitment to prioritize self-care, such as practicing relaxation techniques or setting aside time for activities that you enjoy.
6. Improve relationships: This could involve making an effort to be more present and attentive in your relationships, or committing to regular communication with friends and family. Taking a parenting class can help you improve your relationship with your kids.

Ultimately, the decision to make new year’s resolutions should be based on what works best for you and your circumstances. If you find that setting goals and making resolutions helps you to make positive changes in your life, go for it! If not, that’s okay too – there are many other ways to motivate and inspire yourself to grow and improve.

Let us know in the comments if you’ve set some new years’ goals this year. 

Happy New Year!