AkosGoJack Blog

Ghanaian Youth Empowerment

Lifestyle & Health

New Year’s Resolution?

Byakosgojack

Dec 31, 2019

Do you have one? Are you one of those who set up such goals? Is that even useful? Personally, I have done that in the past but not a big deal anymore.

What does new years resolution entail anyway? Why do we set those goals? Do we accomplish them? Should we set goals at the end of the year or no need? Or they are special goals in addition to regular goals?

I’m asking because they are yearly traditions. Each year many people around the world make decisions about habits they would like to change about themselves. Some want to lose weight, others want to reduce or quit drinking or smoking, eat healthy, try new things, improve their relationships and marriage life.

But many are often unable to keep them. According to Psychology Today, 80% of new years’ resolution fail by February. The Guardian (UK) also reported a few years ago that 66% of Brits would have failed to maintain their resolution by January. The high failure rate is largely due to lack of readiness, inpatience, fear or change and setting of unrealistic goals.

Why? Goals too vague and unrealistic!

What are your resolutions for the year? How did you come up with those goals? Have you figured out what exactly they are? What motivated those goals? What steps would you take to achieve such goals? What do you need to jumpstart the process:money, registration, writing an application?

Advice:

1. Set small goals i.e. if you want to lose weight, starting to go the gym, walking, daily small exercises can help move small steps towards achieving your overall goal. Think about how long it took you to gain that many pounds? How many months or years? You can’t lose all in weeks.

2. Be realistic: don’t expect major changes in weeks. Work towards and appreciate any small progress. If developed a habit over several years, how do you change overnight?

3. Figure out the steps and resources you need to start moving towards your goals.

4. Don’t make drastic changes at once or change who you fundamentally are; it is not possible in a year or sustainable.

5. Change must be voluntary. Will must come from you.

6. Don’t follow crowds.

7. Don’t make changes that might affect your wellbeing.

8. Don’t put pressure on yourself. You shouldn’t be in competition with anyone. Be kind to yourself.

Your goals must be SMART :

SPECIFIC
What exactly do you want to change? How many drinks do you want to cut? What school do you want to attend? What course? What training?

MEASURABLE
Track your progress. How would you know you’re progressing and moving along? Improving? Jotting down or recording changes? Feedback from your spouse? Weighing yourself? Money accumulating in your bank account? Completed first course requirement?

ACHIEVABLE?
Are your goals easy to achieve? Can you realistically save $20 or 20 cedis instead of $50 or 50 cedis a month? Can you cut your number of drinks by one glass a week instead of 6 glasses?

RELEVANT?
How important is your goal? Are they for the right reasons? Carefully thought out or out of pressure, self-hate or passion?

TIMEFRAMES
When do you expect to achieve what? At what time would you want to enrol in the university? When do you have to apply? When would expect to finish your degree? Have you achieved your first goal on the set date? How are you moving along?

Don’t rush or pressure yourself. Take life easy, in the end, things will fall into place. One step at a time.
Best wishes with your goals in year 2020!

Akosua G
Ontario, Canada
December 31, 2019.

By akosgojack

Related Post

Lifestyle & Health

FALSE PUBLICATIONS AND INCURATE REPORTING BY THE GHANAIAN MEDIA

Aug 23, 2021 akosgojack
Lifestyle & Health

In Ghana fighting sexual orientation is more important than

Jul 24, 2021 akosgojack
Lifestyle & Health

Sunday Reflections: Goal Setting

Jul 4, 2021 akosgojack
44 thoughts on “New Year’s Resolution?”

  21. … [Trackback]

    […] There you will find 76846 additional Information on that Topic: akosgojack.com/new-years-resolution/ […]

Comments are closed.

You missed

Politics & Society

HON. GEORGE MIREKU DUKER COMMISSIONS ABBAM COMMUNITY MINING SCHEME- OVER 2000 JOBS CREATED

Aug 31, 2021 akosgojack
Politics & Society

Couples found a New Way to show their Commitment

Aug 31, 2021 akosgojack
Lifestyle & Health

FALSE PUBLICATIONS AND INCURATE REPORTING BY THE GHANAIAN MEDIA

Aug 23, 2021 akosgojack
Politics & Society

An Open Letter to the President of Ghana!

Aug 6, 2021 akosgojack