Raise your hand if you have ever made a New Year’s resolution. If you ever have made one how long did it last? Research shows that many New Year’s resolutions are forgotten or stopped within 6 months. Resolutions and goals are great. However, to increase your chances of success and achievement, you want to make sure the resolutions are realistic and obtainable. Otherwise, you are setting yourself up for failure and the impact of not completing the resolution might be worse for your mental health than not setting one at all. As you are figuring out what your resolution will be or maybe you have even thought of one already, consider the following to help you.

Be specific. The more general something is the harder it can be to achieve it and measure your progress. Instead of just saying, “I will eat healthier,” try “I will eat at least one piece of fruit daily at breakfast.”
Believe in yourself. If you don’t believe you can achieve something, you will probably prove yourself correct. Pick a resolution that you WANT and CAN see yourself doing.
Recruit others. By telling others about your resolution or by having others help you (e.g gym buddy) you are more likely to continue to new behavior and reach your goal.
Remember progress is not linear. It’s okay if you stumble. It’s okay if your progress is slow. It’s okay if you skip a day. Don’t be super hard on yourself and give yourself love and breaks when needed.

For anyone looking to set resolutions related to mental health here are some general ideas that you can make more specific:

Decrease social media usage.
Decrease overall screen time.
Participate in better sleep hygiene.
Make healthier food choices.
Engage in more routine self-care activities.

Regardless of if you make a New Year’s resolution, I hope that 2022 is a year filled with love, friends, family, and happiness for you. Happy Ending to 2021 and Happy Beginning to 2022!