Why I Love Making New Years Resolutions

New Year's resolutions are a great way to reset and trial new habits even if most do not stick. As the start of a new year approaches, many people take the opportunity to reflect on the past year and set goals for the year ahead. While it is common for resolutions to be broken, the act of setting them can still be beneficial.

One reason why New Year's resolutions can be a good thing is that they give us a chance to refocus. The start of a new year marks a natural break from the past and offers a clean slate. It is a time to let go of any negative experiences or habits from the previous year and to set new intentions for the future.

Another reason why New Year's resolutions can be effective is that they provide motivation. When we set goals, we are more likely to take action and make an effort to achieve them. This is especially true at the start of a new year when we may be feeling energized and inspired to make changes. By setting resolutions, we are telling ourselves that we are ready to make a positive change and that we are capable of achieving our goals.

However, it is important to recognize that motivation is not always constant. In fact, it is often cyclical, meaning that it can wax and wane over time. This is why it is common for people to start off the year with great enthusiasm for their resolutions, but then lose steam as time goes on.

One way to combat this natural dip in motivation is to break your goals down into smaller, more manageable tasks. By focusing on one step at a time, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed and stay motivated to keep going. It is also helpful to enlist the support of others, whether it be friends, family, or a coach or mentor. Having someone to hold you accountable and offer encouragement can make all the difference in helping you stick to your goals.

Another great strategy for goal setting is to create an environment that supports your goals. If your goal is to drink less alcohol, don’t keep any in the house. The same can be said for eating less processed food; if it’s not there, you can’t eat it!

Another way to boost your chances of success is to choose meaningful and relevant goals. Setting goals that align with your values and that you are truly passionate about is important. If you are not truly invested in your resolutions, it will be harder to maintain the motivation to pursue them.

I know conventional goal-setting advice is to make your goals realistic and achievable. While I believe having some realistic and achievable goals is important, I also feel some moon-shot goals are integral as well. Our thoughts can sometimes be self-limiting. If we only set goals that are limited by what we think we can achieve, it can handbrake our ability to achieve greatness. The trick is to balance your expectations while also strategizing how to achieve them. Dream big, then come up with a realistic strategy to make it happen. If it does not happen, it’s still likely to surpass what you thought was possible.

Despite the fact that most resolutions do not stick, it is still worthwhile to set them. The act of setting goals and reflecting on the past can be a valuable exercise in and of itself. Even if you do not achieve your resolutions, setting them can help you gain clarity on what you want in life and develop new habits and patterns of thinking.

In conclusion, while it is common for New Year's resolutions to be broken, the act of setting them can still be beneficial. The start of a new year offers a natural break and a chance to refocus, and setting goals can provide motivation to take action. By breaking your goals down into smaller tasks, enlisting the support of others, and setting meaningful and realistic goals, you can increase your chances of success. Even if your resolutions do not stick, the process of setting them can be a valuable learning experience.

My top 10 goals and how I intend to achieve them in 2023:

1. Move for at least 15 minutes or more every day.

·I aim to achieve this by waking up in my exercise clothes and having my joggers with socks beside my bed. I will plan out my weekly exercise routine each Monday.

2. Add 20 new recipes to MEALZEE every workday.

·I will automate the MEALZEE recipe page to open on the start-up of my computer, plus have a chart to tick off each day that I have achieved this goal. Nothing else gets done until 20 new recipes are published.

3. Achieve 8 hours of sleep every day.

·My phone will be on charge in the office and not to enter the bedroom. Practice my bedtime wind-down routine.

4. Date lunch date with my wife every month.

·I will book in the calendar where we intend to go.

5. Travel to Western Australia in the caravan next Xmas for 10 weeks.

·We have the caravan and car, this is just a matter of booking it in.

6. Grow the MEALZEE user base to 2000 weekly users by the end of 2023.

·Show up every day on social media providing 2 hours of valuable engagement to help grow the awareness of what MEALZEE can achieve. This is booked into my work calendar.

7. Have one-on-one time with each of my 4 children every month.

·This is booked into my calendar and has been prioritised above most things (except the lunch date with my wife).

8. Take off every school holiday to continue to show our kids this amazing country.

·Holidays are booked off; we just need to make the holiday bookings for our caravan.

9. Block off 2 hours every week just to think. No phones, computer, just me, a pen and some paper.

·This has been booked into my calendar for each Friday afternoon.

10. Complete a triathlon by the end of 2023.

·Train for and complete the Yeppoon Triathlon Festival on the 27th of August, 2023.

Happy New Year!