Each time January rolls around, countless people start the year with lofty goals about how they plan to reinvent themselves or radically improve their lives in some fundamental way. By the time the month is over, however, many of those plans have fallen by the wayside.

Of course, it is always appropriate to consider ways that you can create a happier, more fulfilling life — but there’s no reason that it has to be tied to New Year’s Day. Instead of tying yourself to rigid resolutions, there are other strategies that are more conducive to long-term success, including:

• Pursue incremental, sustainable change. Too often, people are too eager to reverse years of bad habits in a few short weeks or months. This can lead to burnout and frustration, causing you to give up and settle back into an old way of living. Instead, make rational adjustments to how you live and understand that quick fixes are not the answer to your problems.
• Learn and grow from your failures. We’re all imperfect (yes, even you) and failure is an inevitable part of any effort to try something new. For this reason, it’s important to embrace that fact from the outset so it doesn’t derail your plans somewhere down the line. If used correctly, failures can actually help propel your future growth. Looking back on what you did wrong before will help you avoid those mistakes in the future.
• Stop putting yourself down all the time. When it comes to making lifestyle changes, it’s easy to spiral into a habit of self-criticism and doubt. Instead of focusing only on what you need to improve, be sure to take time to identify and celebrate your strengths. Embrace your flaws, change what you can, and realize that your imperfections make you a uniquely wonderful person!

Chris Agee January 7th, 2023

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