This is probably the only time of the year when every single one of us is trying to figure out what to do in 2016. We create resolutions in order to improve our lives and we try to do our best to change our lifestyles for the better.
However, it can be quite daunting if your New Year’s resolution list is longer than your Holiday shopping list. To top it all, if you are afraid of the unknown and you have a habit of not being able to meet your resolutions, you might be prone to New Year’s resolution anxiety.
What is New Year’s Resolution Anxiety?
This new type of anxiety is provoked by the fact that a person cannot stick to his New Year’s promises & resolutions, and the person is not able to change according to his plans. Setting too few goals throughout the year and too many at the beginning of 2016 might trigger this type of anxiety condition.
According to psychologist Lynn Bufka, Ph.D., anxiety is created by the fear of not being able to meet the resolutions you’ve established for the new year. However, she says that keeping the resolution is not as important as recognizing that you are working toward changing your lifestyle, one step at a time. By making your resolution as realistic as possible, you will be able to overcome the anxiety that tries to settle in at the beginning of the year.
Most people hate New Year’s resolutions because they realize that another year has passed and nothing has been accomplished. Do not fall into the same mistake. Start by making small steps and create realistic resolutions that you will be able to meet.
To discover more about New Year’s Resolution anxiety, Tony Smith, a well-famed professional coach, was asked to explain more about this phenomenon. He said that most people are making a strong connection between past and future, instead of realizing that these two time periods are irrelevant. All that matters is the present moment. Without expectations and without the fear of disappointing yourself and letting down your friends, family, or spouse, you would enjoy a freedom you’ve never experienced before.
How to Make your New Year’s Resolution Really Stick
Here’s how to ensure that your New Year’s resolution will be successful in 2016 and you will get to enjoy a well-earned, hard-fought success.
1. Release the Tension
For starters, you need to try to release the tension for what will come, and you need to start worrying less. There will be many ups and downs, complemented by twists and turns. You need to seize the day and make the most out of each opportunity that presents itself. Make 2016 a year to remember by completely changing the way you act and react slowly.
2. Change only one Behavior at a Time
You need to start small in order to see some improvement. Always make only resolutions that you are confident you can keep. For instance, aim to read 15 minutes more each day, and go to the gym once per week. Do not go for one hour of reading or 3 days of exercising per week all of a sudden. If you want to lose weight, do not give up eating chocolate or pancakes altogether. Instead, try replacing some of these “meals” with fruits, vegetables or other fresh products.
3. Understand the Power of Habits
Charles Duhigg, the world-renowned author who has written many motivational books, including “The Power of Habit” book, states that everything we do as humans is a habit. He argues that our lives are just mere routines that we practice daily. Thus, by changing our habits, we can experience a whole new amount of energy and power.
In essence, once you take control of the habits in your life, you are a new person. The key here is to replace bad habits with good ones. For instance, instead of being sad all the time thinking of what you don’t have, focus on the things you have.
There are three steps in changing a habit and transforming your life. First of all, identify the positive intent behind the new habit you want to use in order to replace the old habit. Secondly, find the right moment to replace the habits. Lastly, go on and replace the habit. It might take a while to fully replace the old habit with a new one, but once you succeed you will get to enjoy a whole new life, much better than the old one.
4. Don’t do it Alone
Accepting help from those who really care will strengthen your ability to overcome anxiety and to complete your resolution. If you feel unable to meet the goals you have established for yourself, it is important to ask for support and seek guidance.
You can either ask a friend to help you out or go one step further and ask for help from a reputable psychologist. A good psychologist is trained to offer complete strategies on how to adjust your goals in order to make them attainable.
5. Don’t Beat yourself Up
In case, you won’t succeed in the beginning and you won’t be able to meet all the goals you’ve set, it is of paramount importance to remember that perfection does not come all of a sudden. Do not give up just because you ate two brownies instead of one, or you’ve gone just five times a month at the gym instead of eight.
We all have ups and downs, so you must try and understand that success is attainable only after many tries and mistakes. Even though you have failed in the past and you were unable to keep the resolutions set in 2015, 2014 or 2013, you now have a new opportunity to prove to yourself that you are a winner.
It is time to change all of your old habits and replace them with new ones. Choose habits that will help you attain success and establish attainable goals.
2016 will definitely be your year of success. Do not be afraid to overcome your limitations and trust in the resolutions you want to establish. You do not have to experience New Year’s resolution anxiety. Instead, you can meet all your goals and become successful in more areas of your life.
