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~ by Richard Sgaglio
According to U.S. News & World Report, 80% of people give up on their New Year’s resolutions by the second week in February. That means most of us only stay committed for a month and a half. Ever wonder why we don’t stick to resolutions?
Here are a few reasons why we don’t achieve the goals we set for the New Year. If you’ve failed to meet your goals in the past, the key is to recognize why that happened and to approach things differently this time. Sticking to a new resolution takes commitment, as it usually takes a few months for a new habit to take root or an old one to be broken.
We Don’t Pick Realistic Goals
According to Statista, the most common New Year’s resolutions are to lose weight, exercise, and eat better. These are achievable goals, yet so many of us can’t follow them throughout the year. It’s because we don’t take an approach that’s realistic. Resolutions have to be practical and fit into our everyday lives.
Rather than making resolutions around food and exercise, what about taking a new route for 2022? Perhaps one that helps others as much as ourselves? Here are 5 realistic resolutions that ARE achievable and can make us all a bit happier along the way!
#5 - Provide random acts of kindness for strangers
Although we are not gathering in large groups during COVID-19, we still pass by each other in places like grocery stores and shopping malls. Even with masks, we can still wave or nod to others as a way of acknowledging them.
There are other ways you can be kind to others during a pandemic. You can:
— Let someone go ahead of you in line at the store
— Pay for the person behind you in the line at your favorite coffee shop
— Drop off a warm meal to a neighbor who lives alone
— Shovel the snow off your neighbor’s walkway and driveway
— Call the local hospital’s volunteer department and ask what projects they need help with
There are so many ideas – just focus on what you think would make an impact and you’ll be off to a good start.
Even if our smiles are masked, just waving to another person can help someone who might be sad or stressed, feel a bit more hopeful. Your kindness will bring you happiness, too.
# 4 - Find a cause you care about and make a plan to help
There are so many local charities that are in need of a helping hand – both in person and virtually. Do some online research to find one that resonates with you.
When you do find an organization you want to help, your involvement will give you a sense of real satisfaction and help create positive change for others. You can donate to a charity, become a mentor, volunteer at an outdoor an event, help at a food pantry – the options are endless!
# 3 - Write letters or send cards to people who may not have visitors
The past two years have been very isolating for all of us. Especially for older people who live alone, children who can’t see their friends as often as they’re used to, or people working from home who don’t connect with others as much as before the pandemic.
A handwritten card or letter is so much more personal than an email or text. Think about some of the special people in your life, and make a plan to write to them. All it takes is one card or letter a month. There are also many volunteer organizations you can partner with to write letters to people around your community or across the nation. For example, Cards for Hospitalized Kids sends notes and cards to children who are in hospitals all around the world and you can help by simply sending a message of hope to a sick child.
# 2 - Make time to learn throughout the year
Just because we are no longer in college doesn’t mean we shouldn’t continue to learn. So much is happening in our world. Make a commitment to continually trying to educate yourself. Regardless of how hectic life gets, carve out time each day to spend reading the news or books, listening to podcasts or audiobooks, or taking an online course. Learning is a lifelong process!
By reading, listening, and learning, you’ll be motivated to wake up every day and effectively engage in the world around you. You’ll feel more confident and more in control of what you can do to create change. And you can inspire the people around you by sharing your knowledge with them.
# 1 - Be grateful and express gratitude
We all have much to be grateful for. This is certainly true as we continue to live through a worldwide pandemic. Expressing gratitude has been known to improve mental and physical health, help you create stronger relationships, increase your self-esteem, and enhance empathy. Gratitude changes your brain chemistry, and it doesn’t come at a cost or require much time. It is important to let the people in your life know how much they matter to you. So, no matter what 2022 may bring, expressing gratitude will help you focus on all the good things in your life.
Some of the ways you can express gratitude are to:
— Keep a journal and write down what you are grateful for
— Don’t hold back on complimenting others for a job well done
— Ask how others are doing and really care about their response
— Be someone’s support system when they need an ear or shoulder
— Always say please and thank you to others
You have what it takes to succeed with your New Year’s resolutions! The five simple ones outlined above can help you feel happy and fulfilled and lead to a better you in 2022.
Happy New Year!
The information in the above article is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.