Resolution Reset: How To Keep Your Goals Realistic And Attainable In 2024
Now that we’re fully into 2024, you may be noticing that those lofty goals you had made for yourself are already starting to come apart. How realistic were your New Year’s resolutions to begin with? That’s the problem with resolutions, at least in my experience. We tend to set the bar too high and then feel overwhelmingly disappointed when it all comes crashing down. Instead of simply accepting defeat when we fall short of our goals, maybe it’s time for a resolution reset!
The idea of making positive personal changes is always worthwhile. (By the way, why do only think of these things at the beginning of the year? Can’t we work on self-improvement in August? I digress.) However, many of the promises we make to ourselves tend to disintegrate within a few weeks because of how we word them. For example, “lose 20 pounds” is a tough goal to hit. However, “add fruits and vegetables to my diet” sounds a lot easier.
Another approach is to keep your time commitment manageable. You don’t have to exercise for an hour every day. Few of us have room for that in our busy schedules anyway. But breaking it up into smaller chunks can help you stay more consistent with your fitness plan. And no one says you have to train for a triathlon. Keep it simple at the beginning. Even just ten minutes of physical activity at a time can be beneficial, especially if you’re starting from zero.
Instead of trying to do a complete overhaul and setting yourself up for failure, it truly helps to think in terms of making small tweaks to your daily life. Once you’ve begun feeling a sense of accomplishment from those incremental steps, that momentum can help the “new you” achieve even more. I’m not claiming to be any kind of “wellness expert” or “lifestyle guru.” This is all just based on 50 years of living. Here’s my list of what I believe to be realistically attainable goals for your mind, body, and soul:
Resolution Reset for 2024
- Don’t start the day by looking at your phone. Wait until after breakfast.
- Watch less TV. Read more books.
- Sign up for a class and learn a new skill.
- Keep an eye on your bank balance.
- Sit less. Stand up during phone calls.
- Take more walks, ideally for 30 minutes day. Getting a dog helps.
- Drink more water. Try it with lemon.
- Eat at least one extra vegetable or fruit every day.
- Go outside and get some of that good vitamin D from the sun.
- Meditate/pray daily.
- Stop worrying about things you can’t control.
- Reach out to friends and family.
- Be grateful for them and to them.
- Say “I love you” more.
- Remember to say it to yourself.
Top Items to Kick Off This Year's Decluttering
Bathroom Declutter
Expired items take the lead on their bathroom decluttering agenda. This includes makeup that has expired or is no longer used, along with medicines and prescriptions that have reached their expiration date or are no longer necessary. Additionally, items like dried-out nail polish, skincare products, and makeup samples are on their bathroom declutter list.
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Bedroom Declutter
Paper clutter tops the list for decluttering the bedroom, followed by books that won’t be revisited and old magazines. It’s perfectly fine to part ways with these items, especially if they’ve been sitting around gathering dust. You can even opt for something digital instead of having paper as your go-to.
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Closet Declutter
A common decluttering challenge we all face is the overflowing closet. According to The Spruce, the first step is to address clothes that no longer fit. They also advise getting rid of items that haven’t been worn in over nine months.
Liudmila Chernetska/ Getty Images
Kitchen Declutter
When it comes to your kitchen, duplicate kitchen tools take precedence on their decluttering list. This includes items like extra vegetable peelers, bottle openers, and garlic presses. They also recommend getting rid of appliances that you use only once a year or less. Yes, even if it’s that toaster oven collecting dust on your counter.
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