Ask Jasmine: Rectifying Resolutions

Posted on Wednesday, February 10th, 2016

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“I never stick to my New Year’s resolutions, but I really want to this year. What’s the best way to do this?”

We all know the pattern. Hoping for change, we ring in the New Year with an ambitious goal for self-improvement. We resolve to start exercising, read more books, or make smarter financial decisions, but by early February many of us have already thrown in the towel. We end up feeling overwhelmed and defeated. Here are some tips on how to set a goal and stick to it.

1. Start simple

Kick start the new year by setting one small and attainable goal. Most people make the mistake of setting a goal that is simply too ambitious. The trick is to pick something that is small enough that you are almost guaranteed to succeed. If you haven’t exercised in a decade, don’t set a goal of running a marathon. Start with something more manageable, like taking an aerobics class twice a week. This will keep you on a positive track and will strengthen your resolve for accomplishing other goals down the road.

2. Get specific

The more specific you get, the more likely it is that you’ll achieve your goal. Rather than making a broad resolution to eat healthier, get specific about how you plan to do this (for example, by giving up fast food or not drinking soda for three months).

3. Anticipate roadblocks

Think about the possible things that might prevent you from achieving your goal. If you know that you typically crave sweets at 4pm, plan to have alternative healthy food choices available at this time. It’s also important that you allow yourself to fail. If you slip up, don’t let it derail your bigger plan. Forgive yourself and get back on track.

4. Focus on benefits

If you start to feel frustrated or unmotivated, think about how you will feel when you’ve accomplished your goal. If you have set a goal to quit smoking, imagine how much healthier you will feel. Visualize yourself walking up a long flight of stairs without feeling out of breath.

5.Minimize negative self-talk

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, watch your negative self-talk. Recognize how negative thoughts might be thwarting your progress. If you notice yourself having thoughts like “I always fail,” stop and remind yourself that this line of thinking is harmful and downright false. Replace self-defeating thoughts with more productive and realistic thoughts, like “It’s hard but I’ve done difficult things before and I can do this too.” Make sure you treat yourself with kindness and compassion, just as you would a friend.

Jasmine

Jasmine Cady
M.A. Canadian Certified Counsellor, Pembroke Campus
Jasmine.Cady@algonquincollege.com
(613) 735-4700 ext. 2804

This was adapted from the AC Hub Newsletter, a monthly publication produced by Student Services.


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