I sat there, diligently drafting my New Years Resolutions:
- Lose weight.
- Save money.
- Be more patient.
- Work out 5 days a week.
- Spend less time on my phone.
Two weeks later my hangry self is yelling at anyone who crosses my path on my way to the drive-thru. I park myself on the couch, shove French fries down my throat, scroll mindlessly through social media, and simultaneously toss every single one of my resolutions out the window. The amount of guilt I feel after this is insurmountable. I think to myself, “why did I think this year was going to be any different?”
This was the year I decided New Years Resolutions are a crock.
Why was I trying to do a complete overhaul of my life starting January 1? Why did I think I think restricting my diet, adding more to my already busy schedule, and denying myself some mindless me time was going to make me any more patient? Spoiler alert: it did the opposite.
No More Resolutions
I decided to shift my mindset to the most minimal mantra ever: Do one thing each day that moves you toward your goals.
Super simple. I can totally handle ONE thing.
- Save money by skipping Starbucks that morning and bringing my own coffee from home.
- Choose a grilled chicken sandwich over a fried chicken sandwich.
- Take a deep breath and count to three before addressing my 7 year old who clearly isn’t “stretching” but rather peeking at the location of my Battleships.
- Raise my desk to the standing position for once.
- Set a limit on meme intake and Ellen Tube videos.
I’ve found I can’t take an “off like a band-aid” approach to things or I will fail and make myself and everyone around me miserable, so I swore off New Years Resolutions forever. I am in a constant battle with laundry, nerf darts, and a 6 going on 16 attitude; I didn’t need to be at war with myself as well.
If you set resolutions and have already fallen off, try taking the time today to do just one thing that moves you toward your goals.
Just ONE thing.
You may not become a whole new you, but a slightly improved and happy you is what matters anyway.