New Year, New Resolutions
Written by: Michelle Sadorsky
Photo by: Weston MacKinnon on Unsplash
A new year means a new resolve. While COVID-19 certainly put a wedge in our resolves last year, that doesn’t mean we can’t make new ones for 2021. If you’ve already made your resolutions, then I congratulate you. There’s nothing better than having something to hold on to as we tackle more online classes and continue to limit social interactions.
To those who haven’t, here’s how to get started. Ask yourself: What Can I Resolve Myself to Do?
This sounds like a simple question, but it’s quite loaded when you think about it. It’s easy to over, or underestimate, our commitments - making a resolution seem too daunting or menial. The result is a resolution that falls apart before it even begins.
Say, for instance, you want to change your work habits: wake up early, keep up with readings, allot two hours each day for yourself, etc.
By themselves, these resolutions are quite manageable. But when you’re trying to implement them all at once, it gets a little tricky. Waking up two hours earlier, for instance, works just fine on the first day. But then the next day passes, and suddenly you’re fatigued by 3pm, unable to get those readings in, and ultimately miss those me-time hours. The resolution dissolves, and you return to the same schedule as before.
So, how do we fix this?
Take one of those resolutions, and zone in on it.
Want to wake up early? Set your alarm 15-30mins earlier than normal. Make sure to keep your alarm somewhere far from your bed, so you’re forced to get up to turn it off. Suddenly, you’re a week in, and you’ve successfully woken up 30 minutes earlier without feeling fatigued during the day.
If choosing the ‘keeping up with readings’ option, assign yourself a certain time every week (or day) dedicated to one class and its readings. One to two hours is generally a good length of time for work, without losing concentration (alternatively, you can alternate between two subjects so as to avoid boredom). Make sure you have a schedule on-hand, so you don’t forget. The same can be applied with those me-time hours.
Stick to it. The change will be gradual, but that resolution will harden over time into a lasting habit.
But what if you’re not a fan of making resolutions? Then I present to you a challenge: Try one thing you have never tried before.
This can be as small or as silly as you want. My example? I’m currently trying a different tea flavor every week. So far, I’ve had chamomile, turmeric-cinnamon, white tea, and ginger.
Not only will this provide something to look forward to, but this challenge can be as creative as possible! So, give it a whirl, and have fun with it.
On that note, I wish everyone a new year, and hope it brings happier memories than the last!
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