Katharina Buczek
And unfortunately, this is the reality for most new year’s resolution setters, too– with only about 9 percent of people actually sticking to their goals for the entire year. That’s right; I said 9 percent.
So, rather than floundering at the last minute, conjuring up tons of different ways that you could possibly improve your life this year, spreading yourself thin, and failing to achieve any of them, there has to be a better way, right?
Well, thankfully, there is. And the only thing you need is some self-reflection and patience.
Real Ways To Work On Self-Improvement
Too often, people think about the new year and become almost high on the idea of that “fresh start.” We can become scatterbrained, overly optimistic, and lose sight of what our lives are truly like during the day-to-day.
So, rather than setting your sights on saving for a new home, losing 20 pounds, meal prepping, and deploying a fancy 10-step skincare routine all at once, it is best to choose one specific goal to hone in on. Moreover, this goal should be actually attainable.
How can you gauge attainability? Well, the first step is to practice some self-awareness. First, grab a piece of paper and write down your average daily schedule. Include all of the responsibilities you must complete each day, as well as any habits you will continue in the new year.
Once you take stock of your life, you will be able to see where there are areas you can realistically improve. For instance, let’s say you normally have an hour or two of free time after work that is usually consumed by phone scrolling or television watching.
If you would like to work on fitness this year, perhaps add in a goal of walking 30 minutes per day after work. Or, if you would like to read more or spend more quality time with friends, you could use that spare hour or two for those goals.
The point is that your goals have to work with your current schedule, and they have to be flexible enough that when sh*t hits the fan, you can still keep up with them. You may not always have two full hours of free time, so factoring in just 30 minutes of dedicated time each day is a way to ensure consistency.
Plus, self-improvement in the new year does not even have to be a daily goal. I know that may blow your mind– since most people make new year’s resolutions seem like a day-in and day-out commitment. But improving yourself can also be a change of mindset.
