As the clock strikes midnight, everyone raises a toast to the new year, which is hopefully better than the last. Many make resolutions, but as January comes to an end, the majority of people have submitted to their old routines, their New Year's resolutions abandoned. Who can blame them, when changing an old routine is hard and forming new habits is even harder?
But if you are determined to start something new, there are ways to make your New Year's resolutions stick and nurture them into lasting habits.
A key aspect of developing resolutions is knowing how to approach them. Being able to approach a habit like one approaches a long-standing tradition may help cultivate a mindset that is ready for change. Traditions are established when an activity is valued so much that it is worth repeating. They are anticipated, enjoyed and loved. This is what keeps a tradition alive. If, for instance, you didn’t love to make your grandma’s cookie recipe with your family every year, you wouldn’t continue doing it. But the fact that it is special and memorable makes this tradition worth keeping. If you have a resolution that is important to you, it doesn’t have to be a chore to keep up. Once you are able to find pleasure, in either the process or the outcome of your new endeavours, then developing your resolution into a habit will be much easier.
Having a variety of activities in your schedule can also help you to enjoy each one. Being well-rounded can give you the chance to enjoy the little, ordinary tasks in everyday life. Conventional habits, like having dinner with your family every night, are just as important as all those new resolutions that you are trying to achieve. Taking time to appreciate the seemingly insignificant moments in your routine can help you to gain a broader perspective on life. Being able to find pleasure in all things is what’s important.
The holidays aren’t the only time of the year when we should reflect on our lifestyles. Reflection should be a continuing process and constant re-evaluation of our habits is important. If something is no longer bringing me joy, why should I keep implementing it into my routine?
Keeping your mind open to new ideas and pursuing them with an optimistic approach is the only way change can be accomplished. Making sure that what you are doing is working for you, day after day, can help you to live your life to the fullest, with no regrets.
This article was originally published in the February 2022 print edition of Camana Bay Times.
About the author
Kylah Murphy is an eighth-grade student at Cayman International School.