Why Do We Make New Years Resolutions? Make Yours Realistic and Achie vable

Why is it that we make such a big deal out of a new year? In reality, it is just a new day, with a new year written at the end of the date, but as a society, we have decided to use calendars. We believe that marking time is an important thing to keep track of and with that, comes the definition of a year...365 days. We've gone so far as to spend money on building a giant disco ball of sorts to watch it descend down a pole in NYC on that 365th night. The new year has become so important that it's a national holiday that we get off work!

People often see a new year as a good time to wipe their slate clean, as if they are no longer responsible for all of the things they didn't accomplish last year. Or they see it as a time that they're allowed to delay a goal since the new year is coming up. Personally, I think this mindset is extremely unhealthy. Now don't get me wrong, I'll be the first to admit that I am guilty of following this trend, but if we know it's bad, why do we all still partake? Well because we all still have goals we want to succeed at. We don't want to accept that we failed for a whole year. So we just ignore that, and start again. No one's life is so perfect that they don't have at least one goal they want to accomplish or one bad habit they want to break. But how do we go about this new year and new decade, so that come 2021, we're not still setting the same goal as we are right now?

First step is to identify what you want to change. It can be one thing or it can be 10 things, but you need to figure out what bothers you about how your life is going right now. It could be that you want to eat healthier, lose weight, watch less TV, start your business, change your job, hang out with friends more, or anything else! Now in previous years, this is probably the only step you took in regards to your resoltuions, just a general statement of what you want and then you told yourself you would finally do it this year. You tell yourself "I feel different this year" or "This is going to be the best year yet" or "My circumstances have changed, the reason I didn't do it last year isn't there now". I'm going to be brutally honest with you, that won't work. In order to achieve your goals, you need to understand why you truly want to change that aspect of your life, and then figure out actual ways to acheive those goals.

For example, let's use the most popular resolution out there...lose weight (get healthy, eat better, etc.). We all know we've wanted to do any of these for the last 5 resolutions and we have continually failed. So sit down, grab a pen and notebook, or ideally a 2020 planner (not your notes section of your phone), and try to understand why you want to lose weight. Is it to look a certain way, is it to feel mentally healthier (more energized, awake, and focused), or is it to live a healthier lifestyle overall? No matter what the reason, come up with a tangible ideal of where you want to end up and where you want this goal to take you: a number you want to see on the scale, on your pants, or on the dumbells.

But don't get ahead of yourself...you shouldn't have the idea in your head that there is a finish line for any of your resolutions. If you do, you'll get discouraged and unmotivated when you don't see results right away or, when you reach your finish line, you'll think...what now? So go into every resolution with the knowledge that this is a lifestyle change and there is no end or break. I know that sounds stressful in and of itself, but it will be so worth it when 20 years from now, you have implemented all of these productive lifestyle changes and you are the put together "adult" we all think about being. You know, the one with the daily and weekly schedule of when to wake up, what you eat for every meal to stay healthy, a steady job that pays well and doesn't have crazy hours, a good gym session in the evening, and a relaxing end to the night with a pampering, luxurious skincare routine. Then on the weekends you have certain days for each household chore like laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, and even Sunday brunch with the girls. Now doesn't that sound appealing?! With the right goals and mindset, you can have that life this year. However, don't be discouraged in June though if you realize you can't do all of that! That's the whole point of this blog post.

Be realistic with what you can accomplish in one year. Only set goals that are feesible. If you work at a restaurant right now, don't expect to suddenly be able to have a 9-5 job, because unfortunately, many of those factors are out of your control. But over the next couple years, you can work towards that regular hour job. Another important thing to remember is that it's okay to change your mind. If you think you want a 9-5 job this year, but then in November you get thrown for a loop and figure out you want to spend your twenties traveling the world and working abroad, then find a way to make that work. If you couldn't tell, that was a snippet from my 2019 and I'm not going to lie, it's been hard going from one goal to the complete opposite one. Just go with it and know that no matter what you do, you'll learn and grow from the experience and you'll be better because of it.

Along the same lines, you have to realize that there is sacrifice involved in acheiving your goals. You won't be happy 100% of the time on the path to success and just because everyone in the world seems happy on their path, doesn't mean they really are. That is something I recently learned and have had to accept. I know we wish that everyone was genuine all the time and we didn't have this online persona of someone else's life and that is what we look up to, but unfortunately, that's what society has become and we just need to be aware of it so that we aren't affected by it in a negative way. Let me repeat, everyone is going through something as bad or worse than you are.

Now I know you're thinking, c'mon Gabriella, be done with the tangent, tell us how to set realistic resolutions. So here we go, the one step that will set you apart to be able to do what you set your mind to, is writing down HOW to do those goals. I mean tangible things you can do that will help. So after you've writtten down "I want to lose weight and be able to do 5 pull ups because I want to be healthier overall" you can write 3 ways to do this. Choose one for each day of the week. For instance: 1. Buy only groceries that are in my meal plan, 2. Get a good night sleep so that I am more motivated and productive the next day, 3. Using that good sleep, go to the gym during a time that works everyday so I can stay consistent.

Let's break those three down. If you set a specific meal plan for yourself, it allows you to only get those items at the grocery store. Then you won't be tempted by those chips in your pantry or the ice cream in your freezer. Even get rid of sodas or condiments because they have a lot more sugar than you think! You can plan each meal out for the week and meal prep the Sunday before. Routine is important because after a while, you don't have to think about it so much, it just becomes habit.

As far as a good night sleep goes, I know that doesn't seem directly related to losing weight, but again, it has to do with routine. If you get into a routine of sleep, you'll be that much more prepared to wake up at a certain time, eat the right food, and go to the gym every morning, or night if that works better for you. But if you're tired and feeling lazy, you won't be energized to go to work, nevermind spend an extra hour physically exerting yourself. And I know you're thinking, if I go to bed earlier, I won't have time to watch Netflix! But guess what, if you sleep earlier, you'll wake up earlier, and you can start and finish your day sooner so you still have time to relax with 'Friends' before turning off the screens.

Lastly, I already touched on it briefly, but go to the gym at the same time every day! It will allow your body the full 24 hours it needs to recover, and again, after a while, it will be as natural as going to work, except better because you feel amazing afterwards with all those endorphins! Wear a cute workout outfit, plan a nice shower and pamper routine after as a reward, it will help motivate you to get there. And once you're there, listen to your favorite music or watch workout videos to follow along with if you don't know your own workouts. Just get active and get moving.

If you're thinking that you can't afford a gym membership, you can. Think about one time you went out to dinner with friends in the last month. $20-$30 right? Well a gym membership is the same price! And its healthier. If necessary, workout at home. I have a giant list of full body conditioning on my phone that involves no equipment! Just google some.

Now here is the last step to fulfilling your new years resolution...think of a punishment. Think of something you hate and then if you don't complete your goal that day, then you have to do that punishment, or you have to remove something you love, such as netflix time. It does help for all of this to be written down but the key really is to find it within yourself to hold yourself accountable. You need to be disciplined, and once you get past the big speed bump of the first day, and the slightly smaller speed bump of the first month or so, you'll be crushing it and I bet by the end of that month, you'll see some results. It might be physical, it might be mental, but you'll be on your way to making yourself and your life better!

I know that was a long one guys but if you made it to the end, thanks for reading and I hope I made your day, year, and maybe even decade, a little bit happier and healthier!

Gabriella