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Happy New Year’s Day! As we begin 2016, I thought it would be a good idea to review one of my favorite topics: setting New Year’s resolutions! As you know, I’m a big fan of setting actionable New Year’s resolutions you’ll be able to achieve in the new year. Everyone likes the feeling of accomplishing something, achieving a big goal, and feeling proud of themselves, right? 🙂
However, July usually rolls around, and you may realize you haven’t done anything to achieve your goals (at least, I realize that!). I frantically try to get back to it, and inevitably end up more stressed than before. This is why it’s really important to set stress-free resolutions: resolutions that make you feel good and make you a better, more in-control-of-your-life person. Sure, you can have a few superhuman goals every once in a while, but stress-free goals that make me more relaxed (and productive)? Those I can really get behind!
In the spirit of setting achieveable, stress-free goals, today I’ve got an awesome surprise for you: I’m giving away a planner from AT-A-GLANCE series of planners for you to use in planning your New Year’s goals! The planner starts in January 2016 and goes to the end of the year. The planner is almost 5″ x 8″ – very compact and easy to carry around to write notes on while you’re out and about!
All you have to do is read the post (or skim it! ;)), share your thoughts on setting stress-free resolutions, and enter to win below! Good luck!
Setting Stress-Free Resolutions: Why?
The New Year is filled with possibilities: you’re going to cast off toxic friends, leave your bad job, make more money, get healthier and, oh yeah, maybe fit some big goals in there like traveling more than 500 miles, getting married, or going back to school. Whatever your plan, this is going to be your year to achieve it! Setting stress-free resolutions is important because it gives you something to look forward to, which sets an optimistic tone for the whole year.
Another good reason to set a resolution is the feeling of accomplishment you get. Even if it’s your worst year ever (and hopefully it’s not, but you never know), you know you can accomplish one big thing.
Finally, with resolutions, you get to be a little selfish. You get to say “I need 30 minutes to relax at the end of the night” or “I need 10 minutes of silence when I get home from work” or “I need to take better care of myself this year, so I will be out of the office/house by 5 p.m. to take a walk/go to the gym/do yoga.”
There’s nothing wrong with any of this! If 2016 is your year to de-stress, be honest with yourself and be selfish. You only get one life, make it count by not dreading every second of your (over scheduled) day.
How to Set Stress-Free Resolutions
Visualize What You Really Want
To set the right stress-free resolution, you have to define what stress-free means to you. It could mean anything from:
- Getting 8 hours of sleep
- Reading for 20 minutes before bed
- Planning a month-long trip
- Doing yoga 3 times a week
- Taking regular walks with your family
- Having dinner 5 nights a week with family
However you define a stress-free resolution, visualize yourself engaging in the activity. How do you feel? Relaxed, happy, peaceful? The more you visualize yourself feeling relaxed, the more likely you are to make your stress-free resolution a priority.
Cut Out Things That Don’t Matter
Let’s face it: you’re probably pretty busy. Whether you have kids or not, we’re all busy and have too many things to do. In order to effectively achieve your stress-free resolution, you’re going to have to cut things out. These could include:
- Grocery shopping
- Miscellaneous shopping (toilet paper, batteries, etc.)
- Working overtime
- Managing your family calendar
- Managing your social media presence (for yourself, business, clients)
You could consider becoming a part of Amazon’s Subscribe and Save, which will save you time by taking out some of your miscellaneous shopping. Consider hiring a virtual assistant who could manage miscellaneous tasks for you, including managing your social media presence. As for work? Make it a priority to get big tasks out of the way in the morning, so you can leave on time easier.
Realistically Budget Your Time
Now that you have a goal and identified ways to give yourself more free time, it’s time to budget (your time)! Hint: having a planner or calendar for this part really helps. 🙂
Figure out where you’ll be the busiest throughout the year (holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, work trips, etc.), and plan around those times to make sure there’s some “you time” in there too. It’s easy to let big events suck up all your free time, but 2016 is your year for stress-free resolutions. Guard your time, and write it down on the calendar to make sure you stick to it.
All that said, don’t be too hard on yourself in 2016. Part of setting stress-free resolutions is knowing when you can’t do everything at once. Allow yourself some breaks, and commit to getting right back to your goals once you’ve rested.
What resolutions are you setting this year, if any, and why are you setting them?
Happy New Year!
This is great advice. I’m going to focus on getting rid of the distractions this year and allocating more responsibilities to others.
Happy New Year, Tre! Hey, those are really great goals. A lot of times we just focus on what we can do, but you’re right – others need to be expected to meet their obligations, too. I like your goal – I might have to borrow it! 🙂
Agree with Tre, this is great advice! I never used to set resolutions because I found them too stressful & never stuck with them anyway.
The past couple of years I’ve been trying to set small, achievable resolutions that will have a big impact on my life. I’m trying to finally change some of the negative thinking patterns I’ve been stuck in for years. So, my resolution for this year is to stop calling myself stupid, ever. I often will mentally call myself stupid whenever I make mistakes, but now I’m going to call myself out for doing so & take the time to convince myself otherwise 🙂
Oh Keri, that’s such a great goal! It can be really hard to overcome negative self-talk, I know from experience. I know you can make that resolution though, because there is no way you are stupid, at all, ever. If you ever need a reminder, just ask me! I think you’re a total genius! 🙂
I plan on drinking less sugar in 2016
That’s a really good, healthy goal too Katie!
I’m not setting resolutions, but I do set goals according to my blog and every topic I write about. Specially about faith and intimacy with God. My plan is to be more close to Jesus and for instance help other around me to be more close to God too. Thanks for sharing and hosting!
Thank you so much for sharing, Tayrina! I’m excited to check out your blog – it sounds really motivational 🙂
Happy New Year. This year my husband and I made some really manageable goals on New Years Eve. After our 2 year old went to bed around 830-9pm, we sat together and talked about what we’d like to see in our new year plan.
MORE:
Family time
Us time
Lists & Time Management
Focus on School
LESS:
Being on Phone when around each other and/or Stella
Attitude/Unnecessary Spats
Our number one goal this year is to cut out the debt! Hopefully by mid-year I will be able to upgrade my old car as well.
Wishing you the best.
Hi Tiffany, these are such awesome goals!! I love the more family time and less time on phone when around each other and Stella. It’s so important to remain in the moment – spouses and kids notice when you’re not fully there. Yay on your goal to cut out debt, too – I’m sure you guys will be able to do it this year!
Wishing you all the best, too, and thanks for sharing!
This is my year to focus on bettering myself and bettering my faith. My divorce was final at Christmas, so this year is already less stressful.
Hi Natalie, I think those are great goals! I’m glad 2016 is getting off to a good start for you, and thank you for sharing! 🙂