“NEW YEAR NEW ME.”

How many times do we hear the phrase “new year, new me” in the first few days of January? and how many people actually drastically change, like their comment implies?

Instead of using a time of year to declare yourself a new person, consider the process of change. It’s often hard to find where to begin, start, and continue a new habit (plus slipping up or forgetting is also a thing). There’s that joke that says gyms are packed in January but back to empty in February.

Drastic change or recommitment can happen any time of the year, but it takes work. Setting a goal or stating a new years resolution is a good start, but ultimately not enough to keep the ball rolling. So what is missing?

The key to making realistic goals actually attainable, is making realistic plans to get there. Though it can be a pain for many people, detailed planning is a bit of a necessity. I’m not talking formulating an obnoxiously detailed itinerary like how someone I know plans to hit EVERY ride in an amusement park. I’m talking more like a graduation planner. My university requires each student to create a (flexible) plan of what classes to take which semester until graduation. That way, when registration opens for the next semester, students have something to refer to as a guide and to ensure the classes keep them graduation-bound.

This highlights two other principles: consistency and evaluation. To go back to the grad plan idea for a moment, imagine if students didn’t refer to any guide at registration or until their perceived end of college. Do you think they would have the correct number of credits to fulfill the requirements to receive a diploma? I’m guessing probably not. Once a goal and plans are in place, it’s necessary to continually reflect and correct where necessary.

In summary, I still think New Years can be a good time to make resolutions, but it’s certainly not the only time. Attainable goals require consistent and persistent attention to the plans set in place (but not in like a toxic way). DON’T FORGET to evaluate and recognize growth and if you need to adjust the goals, do it. Have a great 2020!