New year resolutions?! Does it really have to be this way?
After a Christmas of indulgence and a new year of celebrations, it’s no wonder we get to 4th January and feel like we need a reboot, but how we do that successfully is something many of us ponder.
According to YouGov, 8-million of us chose to make new year's resolutions in 2020, and just a ¼ of those kept them all, with ½ keeping to some of them and ¼ (that’s 2-million people), not keeping to any of them.
I’ve often wonder why people chose the toughest month of the year to make multiple big changes in their lifestyle?! I do understand that we’ve spent at least a month drinking, eating and indulging in all things celebratory so come new year we’re ready to hibernate and feel better. I think this year possibly more than ever due to the emotional rollercoaster that covid keeps us on. But January is HARD. We’re in the deepest depths of winter, furthest away from Christmas and still 3-months from spring. The way I look at it is, don’t make January harder for yourself by setting yourself multiple unrealistic goals, be gentle and think wisely about what you want to change.
Don’t get me wrong, January is absolutely the month to nourish yourself, but if you are one of the 13-million Britons planning new year's resolutions in 2021 (YouGov) before you embark on your changes, I’d ask you two important questions.
On a scale of 1 - 10, 1 being not ready and 10 being totally ready to change right now, are you 7 or above?
Are the changes you’re thinking of making realistic and achievable?
If the answer is yes to both then great! Sounds like you’re really thinking about this and feeling ready, the first important step. If you are unsure, that’s OK too, maybe January isn’t the time for you.
You might feel stuck, unsure how to approach it or worried about not getting where you want to be. If that’s you, don’t worry, it’s hard. Here’s 3 things to consider as you set yourself up to make your change. (These also apply if you’re looking to make a change any other time of the year!)
Write down in priority order the things you most want to change. Stopping drinking, giving up meat, giving up chocolate or sugar, eating more vegetables, quitting smoking and so on... Write them all down, and work out which are the most important for you right now.
Take the top two and think deeply about why and how it would make you feel to make that change. Write it down. Try to keep the statement positive, focus on how you’ll feel having changed the habit, not what will happen if you don’t do it. You want to try and have something like this:
“I want to stop drinking because… I sleep better when I don’t drink which gives me more energy to work/play with the kids/do my exercise”
“I want to stop smoking because… I want to live a longer, more active life”.
“I want to eat less sugar to… reduce the risk of putting on weight so I can feel better and be more active”
Take your priority one and think about what YOU specifically need to do to achieve this. Plan for it in a way that is right for you. We are all different and need different things so don’t expect something to work for you that others say worked for them, it might not be right. Things to think about might include:
Can you do it in stages or small steady steps? For example, reducing chocolate intake by volume or frequency initially for a few weeks before giving it up entirely.
What are your triggers for this particular habit? How can you avoid or protect yourself from those triggers?
Are there people you can share your goals with who can support you through your changes? There is a We in Wellness after all!
How will you celebrate your achievements? When you achieve your first step or milestone, you should actively celebrate this success.
What will you do if you relapse? This is really common and nothing to be disappointed by. If you do, be practical, think about why you relapsed and what you can do about it next time you come across that situation, because it’s likely you will. Life’s not easy and throws curve balls which can affect our mindset and trigger us. Remember what you achieved before your relapse and the big reason why you are making this change and go again.
Once you’ve achieved your first goal, or feel comfortable the new habit is set, celebrate it and when you’re ready move on to your second priority and approach it in the same way.
And most of all, try and enjoy it. You’re making changes towards a better you and that is something to be proud of, even if the journey feels a long one!
If you think you might need some 1-2-1 support for changing your lifestyle or you’re seeking nutritional advice to support what’s happening with you then get in touch.
No judgement, no obligation, just a supporting ear!
image shot at Ara Ha