Make Resolutions You Can Keep

Have you been saying you want to workout but you just don’t have time? Or you want to learn another language but there are not enough hours in the day? Whatever it is, if it’s important to you, you’ll make time. You’ll make it a priority. How you spend your time is a demonstration of what is truly important to you.

It’s traditional to make New Year’s resolutions—about 40 percent of Americans do. Basically, it’s a goal-setting exercise. And the first question is: How do you decide what’s important enough to be your resolution? Then you have to figure out what you have to do to move toward achieving your goal. And, you have to figure out what impediments you have to remove from your life in order to help you be successful.

Make Resolutions You Can Keep Nancy'S Counseling Corner Make Resolutions You Can Keep Nancy'S Counseling Corner

1) Determine What’s Important. You have the best chance of success if you choose a goal that’s possible to achieve. And that’s meaningful to you. Don’t make a resolution that society tells you to make—be sure it really resonates with you.

So what will make a significant difference in your life? What will make your life truly better? Chances are you know this in your heart of hearts. You know that if you stop smoking you will also stop worrying about getting cancer and all the other terrible health consequences your could suffer. You will save significant money as a side benefit. You will be able to kiss your beloved without subjecting him to ashtray breath. You can go on and on.

2) Make a Resolution You Can Keep. Maybe you want to workout every day, but this is probably unrealistic. You could get sick. Stuff happens. Instead, think about the benefits of working out. What specific goal are you trying to reach? To bench press X amount of pounds, for example, in six months. Quantify it.

Notice this is only one goal. People often make many resolutions. But twelve things are not of critical importance to you. Only one or two are. So pick a few and focus on them because too many goals fracture your efforts. And then you set yourself up for failure.

3) Create a Plan. You may want to write it down, because when you do, you feel more committed. And commitment is critical to success. What are the things you can do to move you toward your goal? If you’re trying to lose weight, your plan may include scheduling exercise, keeping a log of the food you eat, making a spreadsheet of your meals and grocery shopping. List everything that will advance you toward achieving your resolution.

4) Make a schedule and stick to it. Focus on a narrow group of activities that will move you toward your goal. Declare your intentions to people you love who will support you in your effort. And whom you will not want to disappoint.

5) Know How to Subtract. Most of us know how to take on new goals but our lives are full. If you take on a serious commitment to yourself, what areas in your life will need to take a back seat? This is important to think about, and usually not easy to come to terms with. Something has to give.

Keep a journal of how you spend your time and you may be surprised. You may discover you spend a lot of time on things that aren’t important to you—things that can be cut that don’t bring you joy. When cut these things, you will have time for the things that help you achieve your resolution.
Nancy Travers is an Orange County Counseling professional. If you need safe, effective counseling services, please get in touch. You can reach her here: https://nancyscounselingcorner.com/contact.

 

 

If you found this post helpful, you might also enjoy exploring some of our other articles that dive deeper into the topics of relationships, communication, and emotional wellness. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your current connection, better understand co-dependency, or prepare for a healthy marriage, these related posts offer valuable insights and tools to support your journey. Take a look—you may find just what you need.

Related Posts

Rumination vs Reflection In Relationships

Ah, going even deeper — I love it.When it comes to relationships, the difference between rumination and reflection becomes even more personal and powerful. Here’s the breakdown: 💔 Rumination in Relationships (Emotional Looping) Result:→ Builds emotional walls.→ Increases insecurity, distance, and mistrust.→ Prevents healing or meaningful change. ❤️ Reflection in Relationships (Healing and Growing) Result:→ Builds emotional insight and compassion.→ Deepens connection and understanding.→ Leads to healthier behaviors and growth.

Read More »

Is She/He Right for You?

In the rush of a new relationship, you stay up all night talking. You can’t stop thinking about him. And every minute you’re away from him seems to drag in slow motion. You’re in the first stage of love, and your hormones are racing. You can’t think straight. Because you are human, there’s no getting around your physical reaction. You are designed to bond, and in so doing, your body

Read More »

Gaslighting vs Respect

That’s a really important contrast to look at — gaslighting vs. respect in relationships — because they sit on totally opposite ends of the emotional health spectrum. 🔥 Gaslighting (Disrespect in Disguise) Gaslighting is a form of emotional manipulation where one person makes the other doubt their reality, memory, or feelings. It often looks like: “That never happened; you’re just being dramatic.” “You’re too sensitive.” “You’re overreacting.” Twisting facts to

Read More »
RELATIONSHIP COUNSELING SERVICES

Find The Counseling Service That Is Right For You

At Nancy’s Counseling Corner, we’re here to support every stage of your relationship journey. Whether you’re navigating challenges in your marriage, preparing for lifelong commitment through premarital counseling, or working through the emotions of separation and divorce, our services are designed with care, compassion, and expertise. We specialize in Marriage Counseling, Relationship Counseling, Premarital Counseling, Divorce Counseling, Co-dependency Counseling—and so much more. No matter where you are, healing and growth are possible. Let’s take that next step—together.

Marriage & Couples Counseling

Marriage is a lifelong commitment that requires hard work, love, care, and understanding the needs of other people.

Relationship Counseling

Can help you find–and keep–the love of your life. Relationships are challenging and require an extensive amount of patience.

Divorce Counseling

Divorce Counseling is an emotional and strenuous thought for those seeking to solve marital problems.

Depression Counseling

Depression is a mental disorder characterized by at least 10-14 days of noticeable or recognizable low mood.

Co-dependency

“Codependency” is a term we hear thrown around a lot these days, though many of us aren’t sure exactly what it means.

Premarital Counseling

Offers Premarital Counseling to couples in the Orange County area that are considering to get married or are already engaged.

Anxiety Counseling

Offers Premarital Counseling to couples in the Orange County area that are considering to get married or are already engaged.

Meditation

Offers Premarital Counseling to couples in the Orange County area that are considering to get married or are already engaged.

Hypnosis

Offers Premarital Counseling to couples in the Orange County area that are considering to get married or are already engaged.