Beating the January blues one resolution at a time.
January 1st has come and gone, and with it, so have the ambitions and goals we set for ourselves for 2023. As the clock struck midnight on the second day of the year, it’s almost as if any drive we held for those precious 24 hours burnt away like a Christmas candle.
Forcing yourself to undertake a collection of new tasks and self-improvements is a calamity in itself. On any normal day in the year, our to-do lists are long enough as it is. Where could you possibly find the time to attend a spin class every day of the year before work, if you have also promised yourself that you’ll arrive 20 minutes early to the office each morning so you can get a head-start on your workload?
We tell ourselves that everything is ‘doable’ if we put our minds to it. But in all honesty, most of us end up burning ourselves out as we endeavour to develop our self-enhancing notions.
But in spite of the trickery that is involved in taking on new resolutions for the year ahead, learning new things has the potential to be incredibly fulfilling. There are countless people who are now Olympic-level knitters after taking up the hobby one dreary January day. There are even more people who have not taken a sip of alcohol since they committed themselves to dry-January, with many telling you that it was the best choice they ever made.
If you are trying to figure out how to prevent yourself from quitting before you’ve even begun, here are some ways to balance your goals with your daily life.
Select only a couple of goals
If you race into the new year with an extensive list of resolutions, you might end up overwhelming yourself with the workload. It’s hard to multitask at the best of times, and post-Christmas break might be the worst time to instruct your sluggish soul to run 5km every morning whilst managing literally everything else. Consider taking on one or two new goals that will compliment your daily life rather than disrupt it. Always leave time for rest and relaxation.
Write them down
Committing something to paper works wonders for the brain. For some, making a list of things they need to do gives them direction and a place to begin. Maybe use your favourite notebook, and keep the list in a safe place.
Track your progress
As aforementioned, writing things down be super helpful in progressing towards your goals. Ticking each goal off as you achieve it is quite visually appealing. However you write everything down is up to you, but if you would like some inspiration, many people use bullet journals and mood trackers with colourful markers to record daily happenings. Tracking how far you have come may help spur you forward in your achievements.
Buddy up!
I cannot tell you how many times I have tried to venture to the library on my own. Often, I’d manage to get there, find a table, and lay out all my flashcards. But within 20 minutes, my patience would start to dwindle. If you are setting yourself a study resolution for 2023, see if you can get one of your friends to join you. By studying together, you can work towards tea breaks together, and might just get more study done if you are both forced to study in silence.
Take breaks
You are only human, and the road towards your new year’s resolutions can be full of hurdles. Remind yourself that it is okay to trip up along the way, and if needed, take a night off. Your wellbeing comes first, and in 2023, start as you mean to go on. Perhaps it’s worth setting yourself some self-care resolutions as we begin the year. Remember, you’re your number one fan.
