How New Year’s Resolutions Should Look This Year
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There has been a lot of interesting research done on New Year’s Resolutions – about the kind people tend to make and which ones actually stick. One study found that “approach-oriented” vs “avoidance-oriented” goals tend to be more successful. A great example of this is having a resolution to jog more, versus to drink less. When you resolve to jog more, that’s an approach-oriented goal. It’s about something you can actively do. Drinking less is avoidance-oriented, as it’s something you’re trying to stop doing. Translation: quitting bad habits is harder than starting good habits.
Another study found that there’s value in having what are called both superordinate and subordinate goals – those that rank higher and lower in importance. So, having a combination of large goals like, improve my friendships, and smaller goals like, eat more salad, can lead to better overall success rates.
These can be helpful to know during normal times, and especially helpful to know during this very, very abnormal year. Hopefully, you’ve been gentle on yourself this year. It’s understandable if you lost steam on that manuscript you were writing or website you were building before the pandemic hit. It’s hard to pursue big goals when you’re worried about your health, finances, civil unrest, a presidential transition…you name it. It’s important to remember that when making your New Year’s Resolutions for 2021. Here’s a look at how resolutions might (and probably should) change during a pandemic (and overall sh-tty year).
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Get more sleep vs don’t sleep all day
Before the quarantine, you might have made resolutions about getting more sleep. Between work and social engagements and exercise classes, you probably never made it to bed when you said you would. Now, when there’s nowhere to go, your new resolution might just be to not stay in bed all day. You may have to push yourself to set an alarm and keep regular hours, when nothing else is pressuring you to do so, as studies have found people are spending more time in be during COVID-19, but it’s not necessarily a good thing.
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Jog every day vs just move your body
In a pre-pandemic world, there were so many ways to get your fitness activities in, but many of them included being in groups, and being at indoor public spaces. Whether you wanted to hit up more workout classes or join your jogging group regularly, that will need to change now. The important thing is to just move your body every day to get those endorphins going and those moods up – that seems to be the hardest thing to do right now. Research has found that regular exercise is especially important for fighting anxiety during this pandemic, and certain tactics, such as using apps and doing it in short but frequent durations might make it easier to keep up an exercise routine.
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Watch less TV vs choose better programming
When life was busy, perhaps you spent too much time binge-watching shows and scrolling through social media. You wanted to cut back on screen time. But now, screen time is one of the few things we have – and sometimes we need it for essential activities. The important thing now is choosing programs mindfully. Be aware of how the shows you watch impact your moods and outlook, and consider a social media detox, unfollowing pages and people who make posts that upset you. If possible, do take screen breaks, because too much screen time can lead to myopia.
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Save tons of money vs do the best you can
Perhaps you had major savings goals before the pandemic. You know, when opportunities abounded. Before you took a pay cut or your partner lost his job. Now, you can take it a bit easier on yourself. You can only do the best you can when finances are tight. Maybe your new goal is to just put away something each month. That’s still something to feel good about.
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Achieve a career dream vs keep working at it
We can all agree that hope has been hard to come by this year. Before the pandemic, life may have felt full of possibilities. Many doors were open for you to walk through and pursue career goals. Now, many may have closed. It’s okay if you don’t achieve that big thing this year. Given the circumstances, simply finding the strength to continue to make baby steps every day towards your dreams is an accomplishment.
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Become a master organizer vs keep things tidy
When life is active and big things are happening, there is that motivation to have a home that keeps up with your needs. You want a household that’s super organized and worthy of all that you’re doing. It’s okay if, during a pandemic, you actually don’t feel like color coordinating everything. Maybe a reasonable and admirable goal is just keeping a tidy home, where you can find things. Focus more on making a home that works for you rather than one that would impress Instagram.
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See friends more vs Zoom friends more
The pandemic did an odd thing where it instantly made us realize A) how much we took our social life for granted and the B ) there’s not much we can do about that now. We aren’t really allowed to socialize. But that shouldn’t mean we give up on keeping those connections alive. A reasonable and safe goal is to keep those regular Zoom happy hours and FaceTime chats with loved ones going. Research has found that social isolation can put one at risk for developing other problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and depression.
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Have a great attitude vs feel your feelings
A little something called toxic positivity comes to mind here, and it’s particularly toxic right now. How can anybody tell you to smile during a time like this? Maybe in previous years, you vowed to have the most positive attitude every day. Now, let’s say it’s okay if your resolution is to allow yourself to feel and process your feelings. There is a lot to process.
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Quit all vices vs keep some comforts
Quit sugar. Quit drinking. Quit ordering collagen sheet masks (that’s not a vice, they just get expensive). Moderation is important, and if any vice is threatening your health, definitely speak to a healthcare provider or mental health expert about what to do. But, given the world right now, maybe it’s not the best time to get rid of every little luxury. You need something to keep you going.
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Lose a lot of weight vs rest when you can
Our bodies are in shock. We may not necessarily realize it, but it’s true. When life was bustling, perhaps you had all the motivation you needed to reach extreme weight loss goals. But, right now, perhaps the focus should be on listening to your body and being gentle with yourself. That doesn’t mean continuing truly unhealthy habits. But this may not be the time to try extreme and abrupt diets.
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Quit an addiction vs seek help with an addiction
This is a good way to look at this resolution, no matter what’s happening in the world, but it may be especially relevant right now. If you struggle with addiction, you will hear “take it one day at a time” as part of many programs. And it’s valid. Instead of saying, “I’ll quit drinking,” perhaps the resolution can be, “I’ll actively seek help with my addiction. I will stick to the program. I’ll take the steps, one step at a time.”
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Adventure more vs find thrills in the little things
Adventuring more isn’t really an option right now. That trip to New Orleans with your girls or that backpacking trip around Europe has been postponed indefinitely. A mindset shift will have to happen to feel like life isn’t totally thrill-less. This is the time to find excitement in small things. Maybe it’s discovering new walks or parks in your neighborhood. Maybe it’s trying new games at home with your family. A great resolution is to be innovative and creative, so life still feels exciting.
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Learn something enriching vs learn something marketable
Not every resolution is right for every person. You may want to consider the season of life that you’re in. For some, before the pandemic, the focus may have been on learning enriching things like a new language or salsa dancing. Now, because industries are changing and money can be tight, it may be to learn a new marketable skill. Or maybe you need the reverse. Maybe your life was always about learning marketable skills and this pandemic has made you reprioritize a bit, and you want to learn something fun. New knowledge is a way of fortifying ourselves against the unpredictable. It makes us more adaptive and flexible.
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Fight less with family vs bicker less with your partner
Perhaps before the pandemic, it was the family outside of your home that got on your last nerve. Your parents. Your siblings. That cousin. You dreaded calls with them as they often resulted in yelling matches or passive-aggressive comments. Now, you’ve been stuck with your immediate household constantly. Your new resolution may be to approach them with more kindness and patience as you’re all going a bit stir crazy.
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Eat at home more vs find new recipes
Remember when we resolved to make more meals at home? HA! We had no idea that we’d basically have no choice for a full year. So now, you have no trouble keeping that resolution. The new resolution may be to find new recipes, so you don’t grow totally sick of your own cooking. And to have gratitude for the food in the fridge, rather than resentment over another night of cooking.
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