Why New Year resolutions should be a thing of the past?
We are well past the NYE celebrations and settling nicely into 2024 but the beginning of the year always comes with an insurmountable pressure to revolutionise your life. If your social media feed is anything like mine you are probably being inundated with mantras about positive lifestyle routines, healthy living and exercise. It's a lot isn't it?! I advocate for a much kinder and softer start to the year as everyone knows January is a dull and dreary month where we feel poor and gluttonous so why on earth would we think it is an opportune time to make big plans to completely overhaul your life? It is a disaster in the making.
I believe that when we plan to rapidly change our life style we are being quite disrespectful to the ‘old you’ who had wins and successes. Instead I plan to take a much slower approach to change by focusing on month long resolutions which will reducing the pressure I put on myself and will hopefully lead to positive habits. This more manageable approach may not have huge life altering consequences, but I know that I inevitably give up on those ones anyway.
Instead of focusing on an exhaustive list of things to improve I have committed to a January plan which is a very simple one inspired by the book ‘How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back’ by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith: You can shop here for it: World of Books website
In January 2024 I intend to claim my achievements in a full and plentiful way.
I hate to admit it but I can be a bit of a fun sponge sometimes as I fixate on the struggles I face rather than the ways I flourish. I think this mind-set is a bad habit that really holds me back. So one small thing I will do for the entire month of January is keep a gratitude diary – nothing fancy and nothing too structured as I am currently just using my phone to record it. I aim to write down something I am happy with and something I did well alongside a snap of each outfit I wear. I want to flood myself with this positivity with the hope that it boosts my self-belief and productivity. At the end of each month that I am successful I will reward myself for maintaining a new and positive habit; and February will be easy as one as I will be 40 years old on the 1st.
I know that some completely reject any sort of trivial goal setting and instead opt to criticise anyone who does, however these ‘haters’ should not put you off. Some may choose to continue exactly as they are and that is their choice. However, I believe that change all be it scary is vital for a full and bountiful life. Guess what? You don’t have to actually tell anyone about any goals you do set if you don’t want to.
Is there something really simple you could commit to for one month?
Some ideas for you….
Commit to a skin care routine
Drinking more water
No fast fashion purchases
Get more rest
Clear that useless kitchen draw out
Wear more items from your wardrobe
The list is endless and what you choose really needs to be personal to you to have any impact but I would love to know what your January goals are so if this has inspired you send me a quick message and we can cheer each other on.
Happy 2024 and Happy January
Love Jess
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