3…2…1…Happy New Year! After all the bottles pop and the ball drops, the new year is already underway. But what if by the time you read this, a New Year’s resolution has not yet been made. It is not too late, so do not give up!
Scientific studies show that just mentioning something out loud “can motivate you to move forward in your goals” and “help you focus on the task at hand.” That may sound pretty promising in itself, but “when we take the time to write down our goals (the more detailed the better!), we are 1.2 to 1.4 times more likely to achieve them.”
What if right now nothing comes to mind to say or write down? Not to worry! Here are some concrete examples to help form a resolution:
• ‘By the end of 2024, I would like to receive a substantial raise or promotion.’
• There are 12 months in the year, so this is very attainable. It can provide motivation to produce better and harder work as one moves towards this goal. This resolution allows time to create those results as well.
• ‘During 2024 I would like to spend more time with my loved ones (friends, family, pets, yourself).’
• The term ‘more’ is relative to the resolution setter, so that could mean five minutes or five hours. It could also mean writing a letter or calling someone on the phone. Time is still being spent connecting. Again, the results do not have to be immediate, but it still has structure.
These somewhat simpler resolutions build off of what we already do in our lives, but they can provide some very positive outcomes. This process can bring feelings of accomplishment and pride. That is quite obvious, but there is evidence that “optimism is doubly beneficial”. By setting a good resolution at the start of the new year, you are “contributing to your own mental health, [and] also engaging [yourself] toward positive action which has an effect on those around you.”
With all of that information in mind, why not just try it out? Hopefully this provides the needed motivation! Maybe easier said than done, but we can start this New Year off in a positive way. Wishing everyone a great 2024!
