Resolutions: How's it going?

Photo: Contributed - Ammentorp Photography

After a whirlwind month, the holiday dust is finally settling. The tree is likely down, the guests have gone home, the debris is slowly getting cleared away, and it’s time to tackle the New Year. 

If you are like many, you probably blurted out a few resolutions at your New Year’s gathering. Maybe these were items you’ve been waiting to really crack down on this year, or changes that have been a long time coming. Maybe they were simply the first things to pop into your head, or vague wishes about things you’d like to be different in your life. 

Well 2016 is already underway – how are you doing on those resolutions?

Many people find New Year’s resolutions frustrating. So often, we have a grand few moments of good intention, and by mid-February or sooner our resolve has simply ebbed away and we’re stuck in our same tired routines, making the same choices we made last year.

More successful than the wistful resolution is to set a concrete goal accompanied by a step-by-step plan to achieving it. The resolution to “get in shape” can be made more possible by laying out a plan for getting fit in 2016 – join that gym and follow up with a workable schedule of which days/times you will attend and which workouts you will do. 

Go further by enlisting a motivational partner to either work out with you, or encourage you on your quest. Write out your plans to give them a more concrete feel, and enter your schedule into your day planner so you actually dedicate the time you’ll need.

Quitting smoking, curbing other bad habits, or getting your financial house in order need similar structure, and likely even more support if you hope to be successful. 

Many people resolve to take up a new hobby or learn a new skill in the New Year. Again, these require forethought, planning and a strategic execution.

For the less concrete resolutions such as being happier this year, or having good relationships, they will still need to be associated with some tangible steps if you want to actually make strides toward achieving those things. 

If you want to be happier, you will need to identify what it is that might make you happier. Are there things in your life making you currently less happy than you’d like? Do you need to find ways to reduce stress? Do you need a career change? Is it a hobby? Are you too busy? Are you experiencing depression, and in need of treatment?  

When relationships are getting you down, you will still need a concrete, goal-oriented way to move forward in making changes. Depending on the nature of the relationship, you can determine whether you want to continue with it or move on. If you want to maintain the relationship, you’ll need to identify what is making it unhealthy, and whether it requires action from one or both parties. Open communication and possibly professional guidance may be helpful in resolving long-standing issues or patterns within a relationship. 

No matter your hope for 2016, if you approach your New Year’s resolutions as goals – you are more likely to succeed. 

I wish you the very best this year.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.