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New year, new you?

December 20, 2018

University Relations

Did you know that in any given year 40 percent of Americans will make a New Year's Resolution? Did you know that 80 percent of those will fail in the first 30 days? But don't be discouraged. Here are some tips for how to keep your resolutions, and maybe some fresh new ideas as well!

TIPS:

Use the S.M.A.R.T. acronym in setting your goals for 2019.

Specific – Make your goal absolutely clear.  Instead of a broad statement like “I will save more money this year” try a specific number like “I will save $50 a month.”

Measurable – Track your progress by keeping a log, a journal, or notes on your phone.  Doing this reinforces good habits and offers an encouraging boost.  It also may keep you accountable.

Relevant – Is this goal important to you or are you doing it to please someone else?  Is it something you’d “like to do” or something you think you “should” do?  Is the goal good for you?  Is it healthy?

Time-bound – Do you have a realistic timeline?  Break your goal down into smaller, achievable steps and celebrate the little victories along the way!

Managing hurdles:

Allow for mistakes – they WILL happen.  This doesn’t have to derail your entire goal though!  Refocus on the goal, not on the mistake. Own it. Accept it.  Move forward.

Play the numbers game (the right way) – focus on the smaller number.  For example, if your goals is to put $1,000 into savings this year, instead of saying “ugh, I still have $900 to save, it’s too much!!” focus instead on what you have accomplished – “I’ve saved $100 this month!”  Or if your goal is to run a 5k, focus on how many miles you have achieved, not how far you have to go.  Instead of “ugh, I have 2 miles left to go, it’s so far!” think of how far you’ve come – “I’ve gone a mile already!”

Look for obstacles – what has caused you to slip-up before?  Unsupportive friends? Making the goal too big?  Getting sick?  Injury?  Thinking of where you have derailed in the past can help you think of alternative solutions to try this time around.  And that is the key – try, try again.

Find a partner – Accountability can help tremendously in staying on track with your goals!  Find a friend who shares your goal, maybe a support group in town, on campus or even social media.  Somewhere or someone with whom you can share the ups and downs with, encourage each other and celebrate with.

ALTERNATIVES:

Don’t want to make any resolutions?  Why not ask yourself instead, “how do I want to grow this year?”  Or perhaps brainstorm on a Word of the Year or Phrase of the Year instead.  This word or phrase can be a mantra that shapes and guides your choices for 2019.  This broadens the horizon on what is possible and doesn’t peg you into focusing on just one thing.  Here are some examples to get you started:

Health ~ Happiness ~ Positivity ~ Strength ~ Faith ~ Courage ~ Fun ~ Adventure ~ Confidence

Generosity ~ Forgiveness ~ Independence ~ Family ~ Love

Check in with yourself throughout the year and ask: am I living out my word this year?  Are my current actions in alignment for how I want to grow this year?

You can keep it simple by asking yourself, “what do I want more of?” and “what do I want less of?” and build your yearly actions and choices around that.

This would be a great thing to talk to your ������ counselor about too so give us a call!  We’d love to hear what your goals are, be a sounding board throughout the year, and a source of support.

As a reminder, the ������ Student Health and Counseling Center will be closed from noon on December 21^st until 8am, January 7^th.  If you are in crisis and not able to reach us, please call the main number at 474-7043 and follow the prompts to reach a crisis line and speak to a licensed therapist.

Everyone at the wants to wish each of you a happy and healthy holiday season!  Take care of yourselves and each other.  See you next semester!