As we dive into 2022, many people are drafting their annual list of New Year’s resolutions. But here’s the hard truth: Your resolutions are probably going to fail.
Most resolutions are broad goals that inspire people to pursue an unattainable version of themselves. People resolve to save money, read more, eat healthier, stress less, and a slew of equally nonspecific improvements.
New Year’s resolutions are great in theory. Who wouldn’t want to double their savings and abandon all sources of stress in the course of 12 months?
But a goal without a specific plan for how to achieve it is essentially meaningless and actually quite dangerous. The turn of the clock doesn’t suddenly make you a “new” person who is more likely to achieve the same goals you probably abandoned last year, and it can be a huge blow to your self-esteem when you predictably begin to lose momentum. Instead of setting vague goals and crossing your fingers that they realize themselves, try to establish habits that will help you become your best self.
Don’t simply resolve to “read more”: Make a habit of reading for fifteen minutes each night before bed. Instead of aiming to “stress less,” brainstorm a list of activities that help you decompress and carve time out of every day to do one of them. Want to save money in the new year? Commit to making your own coffee or thrifting some of your clothes.
Our point is not that you should lower your expectations for yourself. It’s great to have lofty long-term goals that inspire you to make positive changes in your life. New Year’s resolutions can give people hope for a better, more productive year than the one they are leaving behind, but this hope can quickly turn to discouragement without a proper mindset and a realistic plan.
With this in mind, we hope 2022 brings you success, joy, and inner peace. Happy New Year, Redhawks!