Another new year has arrived, bringing 365 days and a clean slate. It’s how we will fill those days, and the plans we are to make that will determine if this year is going to be successful for our families. What new goals do you have for yourself and your children? Are there resolutions from 2024 that were not fulfilled successfully? Will you be adding new challenges and experiences to strive toward this year?
It isn’t easy to know where to begin and how to ensure the year’s plans come to fruition. If you are like me, I have lofty goals and aspirations that always make it onto my New Year’s resolution list, only to find that after a few weeks, they slowly fall off, and I lose interest. Not because they are too challenging or out of reach but because, like most families, time constraints and busy schedules take over. Knowing this, how do we plan to tackle a new year and begin with the end in mind?
According to our feature article, Ditching the New Year’s Resolutions: 5 Things to Try Instead, the author suggests that we consider changing the way we think about our resolutions. Instead of saying, “I need to lose 20 pounds”, maybe we reframe that into, “I will try a new form of exercise” or “Let’s go biking or hiking at a local park once a month.” This reframing can retrain our thoughts to think of the weight loss goal as more of a fitness/lifestyle change that can include a new outing with the family. All in all, you will be returning to nature and enjoying family fun while getting some much-needed exercise. Another idea is to create a monthly challenge for yourself or your family.
For me, I have put off decluttering and organizing our basement. Spring cleaning plans are always made, but my goal becomes daunting at best once I begin sorting, stacking, and tossing out the fun fizzles. This year, instead of planning to clean out the clutter down there, I have a new way of tackling this task. Each month in spring, the plan is to break down the overall declutter goal into smaller, more manageable pieces, get the whole family involved, and have celebrations along the way. Hopefully, by starting small, we can accomplish and reward ourselves, as we eventually meet the larger goal that has been put off for far too long.
A new year can bring new challenges and new goals for everyone. It is with our best intentions that we set out to tackle new projects, new fitness goals, and more quality family and work-life endeavors. Keep your goals and plans moving forward by rethinking how you see them. A new approach to goal setting may be all that we need to start checking them off successfully. From one parent to another, let’s make these 365 days the best they can be.
