We’re just about one month into 2022, and I’m already feeling guilty for letting my New Year’s Resolution—to do more meal prep and cook nicer meals for myself—slip quietly to the wayside. Many people take the time at the beginning of each year to think about what they want to change, and they find this to be a productive moment of pause and reflection. Others argue that starting the year with a list of things you need to improve sets a negative tone and is ultimately setting you up for failure. So how can we make our goal-setting more positive and make our resolutions stick?
Start with the Positives
Before jumping into what you want to do better, write a list of everything you accomplished last year. What are you most proud of about 2021? Thinking about our bad habits can make us feel overwhelmed, so it’s important to celebrate our victories, no matter how small. Goal setting can be as positive or negative an experience as we make it, so why not make it positive?
SMART Goals Only
Perhaps you noticed that my goal—to do ‘more’ meal prep—was vague. This is likely a big reason why I have struggled to accomplish it. Instead of setting general goals for yourself, only set SMART goals. These are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, I’m changing my goal to something more specific: I will meal prep by making one large meal every other Monday, and I’ll reassess in one month. Ah, now I think I might be able to do this!
Be Compassionate
If your goals mostly make you feel guilty or bad about yourself, then they aren’t good goals. Resolutions should feel optimistic and achievable. Especially in this time of Covid (again? Still?), it’s more important than ever to be compassionate with ourselves. Maybe you didn’t accomplish everything you set out to do last year; that’s fine! The anxious times in which we live have taken a toll on everyone. The best you can do is help yourself feel more in control, more motivated, more encouraged, and more powerful by setting small goals and celebrating every victory. (I’m planning to make a vegan palak paneer this week! Go me!)
