New Year, New You: How To Work On You This Year

Every year, millions of Americans set goals to be better. 

For some, that means working out more and eating vegetables.  For others, that means reading more and watching less television.  Some of us even find that we choose the same goals every year, with no success.  This year, find a new way to work on you this year. 

Here are 5 ways to help your new year’s goals stick so that you can be a better you this year:

Be Specific.

Instead of picking an ambiguous goal, focus on something concrete that feels realistic this year.  Make sure the goal is specific and achievable.  For example, if you want to lose weight, commit to identifying a realistic amount of weight over 3-6 months.  If you want to run a marathon, chunk out this goal month to month.  Additionally, limit the amount of resolutions so you can hone in one a few significant goals. Making your goals more concrete allows planning and sticking to your goals over the year. 

Start Small.

If you want to run a marathon, set a goal of jogging two to three times a week first.  Taking on too much at a time is a common reason that many resolutions don’t stick.  Ultimately, the key is to focus on tiny steps that will help you reach the larger goal. While it may feel like a slow start to reaching your goals, these small changes allow for a high success rate to a healthier you in 2024!  Additionally, it increases the likelihood of long-term success. 

Avoid Repeating Yourself.

If some of your goals for 2024 are similar to the goals of 2023, your self-belief to achievement may be low.  Its important to do an inventory of goals unrealized if they are still important to our goal setting.  Identify what was effective in the past and what prevented you from being consistent with reaching the goal. Altering the resolution may make the goal more achievable.  Changing the approach may give you a better result this year. 

Remember, Change Is A Process. Be patient. 

Unhealthy behaviors take years to develop so to expect to change them in a matter of days or months is unrealistic.  Remember, this is not a race.  Changing behavior is work that is continued throughout our lifespan.  Allow the time and space for success. 

Get Support.

Tell a friend about your goals and allow them to be your accountability partner.  Connecting with others can help people stay motivated to make progress.  Scheduling time with a psychotherapist to explore goal setting and barriers may also be effective.  Psychotherapy creates an environment where you can identify the negative thoughts you say to yourself that get in the way of your success. Therapy helps identify where these negative perceptions and thoughts come from and how to heal and reframe them.  Additionally, therapy can help us learn and adapt to barriers toward our goals and identify triggers and how to manage them.  

It can be difficult to make changes in our lives, but it never helps to focus on the negative.  Negativity only develops discouragement. Don’t focus on how tired you will feel after a workout session at the gym, or how stressful it may be to stop smoking.  Use your 2024 goals to remind you of the benefits and positive benefits it will have on your life. Focusing on the positive will get you to your New Year resolutions and create a new outlook on 2024 and beyond!

For more information, you can reach out to us, where you can schedule a consultation and talk about we can support you. 

About Vaughn Greene Funeral Services: For more than 25 years, Vaughn Greene Funeral Services has been providing a ministry of care to Baltimore’s African American community. As a leading local, minority- and family-owned provider, we promise to provide our highest level of service and respect to families who entrust us to honor their loved ones. For more information about our funeral, cremation, memorial, repast, and grief counseling services, please call us at 410.655.0015 or visit us online at https://vaughncgreene.com/.

Leslie Holley, MA, LCPC, LPC, NCC is the owner of Healing-Circle, LLC. She is a Nationally Certified Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and an experienced presenter on mental health topics. We are honored to have Leslie help support our families needing hope and healing.

Sources:

• https://www.success.com/the-problem-with-the-new-year-new-you-mindset/
• https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-keep-your-new-years-resolutions-2795719
• https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/7-tips-to-keep-your-new-years-resolution/2022/12