How to Set New Year‚s Resolutions (That Actually Feel Good)

2020 is here, and we‚re officially entering a new decade. After the ball drops and the celebrations ensue, you may be thinking about setting your resolution yet again. And just like every New Year comes a slew of messages from the media promising a ‚better you‚ ‚ be it weight loss, a slimmer physique, more money or ways to manifest your dream relationship. But what if the whole #newyearnewyou approach to resolutions doesn‚t resonate with you? Perhaps it‚s time we look toward a different approach ‚ one that feels better for you and sets you up for success. If setting New Year‚s resolutions makes you want to pull your hair out, give these four feel-good techniques a try ‚ and make 2020 your best year yet! 1. Get Clear About How You Want to Feel According to the U.S. News and World report, about 80% of New Year Resolutions fall through by the second week of February. The most common reason: resistance to change. Put simply, it‚s not necessarily the fancy gym membership we should be focusing on, but rather our mindset. Instead of fixating on what you want to change about yourself, try shifting your attention to how you want to feel. Do you want to feel more present with your family, energized throughout your workday, or confident in your relationship? Once you‚re clear on how you want to feel, you can use it as a roadmap to craft a soul-centered intention that feels good for you. For instance, if you want to feel more more present with your family, you may decide to do a digital detox or escape once a week to a yoga studio for some solo time to re-charge. If health and vitality are important to you, perhaps spending more time in the kitchen preparing farm-fresh meals will help you achieve your goals. 2. Choose an Intentional Word One of the reasons resolutions may feel unsettling to some is because we make them so darn complicated, setting you up for failure from the get-go. If setting an elaborate resolution feels overwhelming to you, start simple by choosing just one intentional word. You can use the exercise above ‚ on getting clear about how you want to feel ‚ for inspiration when brainstorming your 2020 word ‚be it energy, abundance, or clarity. The most important part is that your word resonates with you (not your coworker or BFF). It should have a personal connection behind it! 3. Get Visual Are you a visual person? It‚s one thing to create a goal, but it‚s another thing to actually stick to it ‚ and having a visual reminder may be just what you need to stay focused. In fact, a survey conducted by TD bank found that business owners who visualize their success are more confident about achieving their goals (and sticking to them). Try writing your resolution or word down on a piece of paper, and placing it somewhere you‚ll see daily ‚ like on your office desk, notebook or bedroom mirror. Take it a step further by making a Vision Board ‚ a visual collection of words and images representing the things you wish to manifest in your life. Gather some poster-board or scrapbook paper, old magazines, scissors and glue and craft away! 4. Rally Your Support System & Share Your Goals Out Loud Who said we have to go after our goals alone? Consider getting your family or friends on board to help keep you motivated, accountable and maybe even have some laughs along the way! One study found that those who share goals with friends are more likely to succeed (especially those who are prone to procrastination). Not to mention, this may take the stress out of the process, making achieving your goals more fun! Just be sure to surround yourself with positive people, rather than those who will bring you down or express judgments. Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year from the Vibrant Health team! Share your New Year‚s resolutions with us on social media by tagging @VibrantHealth DISCLAIMER: This information is not intended as a substitute for advice provided by a competent health care professional. You should not use this information in diagnosing or treating a health problem. No claim or opinion in this blog is intended to be, nor should be construed to be, medical advice. If you are now taking any drugs, prescribed or not, or have a medical condition, please consult a competent physician who is aware of herb/drug interactions before taking any herbal supplements. The information presented herein has not been evaluated by the FDA or the Department of Health and is not intended to diagnose, prevent, cure, mitigate or treat any disease or illness.