Why “New Year, New You” Doesn’t Work (and What Actually Does)

The beginning of a new year is a good time for reflection whether or not you make resolutions. It is helpful to reassess your goals and priorities in life periodically, and a new year provides the perfect opportunity to do so. Asking yourself these questions can help you come up with some goals for yourself.

Start with something you value and want to prioritize

o What do I value the most?

o Is my current life aligning with my values?

o Am I spending time on things I consider important?

o Do I want to make any changes to my life?

o What is a priority right now?

Having specific goals and working towards them allows you to realize your dreams and build the life you want to have. When coming up with goals-

Set small achievable goals:

Be realistic. Even small steps towards a big goal counts.

Start with a few goals:

Making any change is hard. It helps to start small.

Set few small goals and be clear

Be specific:

Details matter. What will you specifically work on? How will you measure progress?

Prioritize:

Choose goals that are most meaningful to you first.

Have short timelines/deadlines:

Plan for 2 weeks at a time.

Make room for setbacks and failures:

Expect setbacks to happen. They are not exceptions.

Expect setbacks and be patient with yourself

Be patient:

These things take time. Rome was not built in a day.

Be kind to yourself:

This process will not be smooth or perfect. Try not to be hard on yourself.

Keep at it:

The beginning is the hardest part, soon enough you will have created a habit. Habits do not take as much work.

Be flexible:

Reset your goals and expectations as needed.

Wish you a healthy, peaceful and happy New Year!

Dr. Sayanti Bhattacharya, MD, MS