Why New Year’s Resolutions Are Good for Mental Wellness
It’s that time again, when the new year rolls in and you either set goals for the next 365 days to come or you don’t. New Year’s Resolutions tend to carry a negative connotation, but that’s because most people have the best intentions but also have a lack of follow through. Did you know that, if set properly, New Year’s resolutions can actually assist in maintaining good mental health?
The Good
Setting goals, which is essentially what New Year’s Resolutions are, is an excellent way to stimulate focus. There is no better way to achieve success in any venture than to set a goal. The start of a new year marks a change of date, and it can mark the beginning of a very important change in your life.
The Bad
New Year’s resolutions fail because we are human. What this means is, we are the only species capable of true reasoning. And unfortunately, we are imperfect creatures that fail to reason carefully. We set goals that are unattainable, setting ourselves up for failure and a sense of hopelessness and defeat. We also tend to be vague, which means we’re unable to measure whether or not we were successful.
The Hopeful
You can set goals in your New Year’s resolutions that are more reasonable and render perceptions of accomplishment. You simply need to stop and think about what you really want before you set those goals. Keep in mind that your personal goals should be based on values — the things you value most in your life. In creating these, make sure you adhere to the SMART goal policy:
Set SPECIFIC goals that spell out exactly what you want to do. Don’t stop with “I want to lose weight.” Think in terms of where you want to be, whether that’s a specific weight goal or inches around the waist.
Set MEASURABLE goals. Don’t say “I want to make more money.” Are you looking for a particular promotion or a job paying a certain amount? Make sure you know the mark so you can achieve your goal.
Set ACHIEVABLE goals. Falling in love and getting married within 90 days is not achievable under most circumstances. Use common sense when setting goals.
Set RELEVANT goals. Make sure the goals are based on values that affect you directly. Solving world hunger is great but probably not relevant to your circumstance. Consider values such as:
- Health
- Career
- Relationships
- Arts & Creativity
- Community Involvement
- Finances
Set TIME-RELATED goals. This is easy since the new year already gives a sense of time. Set goals that can be achieved in a year or less so you can monitor progress.
Whether you want to start saving $100 a month toward a vacation, submit a work to a poetry contest, start going for a 20-minute walk every day, or simply spend ten minutes reading to your child every night before bed, your New Year’s resolutions, when set properly, can lead to a better mental outlook and a happier year overall. So be resolved to make better New Year’s resolutions for your own mental health this year, and have a great holiday and a wonderful year to come!
