Every year-end we get the chance to make positive resolutions for the upcoming year. Most of us at least give this a passing thought, and maybe even some serious attempts to change something in our lives and personalities for the better. Here are some of the top New Year's resolutions:
- Spend more time with family and friends
- Become more physically fit
- Lose weight
- Get out of debt
- Get organized
- Learn something new
Those are just a few of the standard resolutions most people claim.
I've reached a point in my life in which my resolutions are a bit different. My goal for a few years now has been to simplify my life and to own less. This automatically makes my life easier to manage. Because I've resolved to buy less, that goes hand-in-hand with less debt. As I simplify and accumulate less, I also free up time to do the things I love. That includes spending time with the people I care about the most, and who value me for who I am as a person, not by artificial standards of success.
Diet and exercise are a regular focus just to maintain well-being and vigor as I grow older. Sometimes I need to remind myself to get off the computer to do it. So that's a stronger focus this year - less computer time and more time in the outdoors! I always commit to learning something new, and this year it might be guitar lessons one last time, before my hands are too weak and my hearing is totally gone! Sometimes changes in our very beings dictate what we wish to do in the immediate future.
What about you? Do you make New Year's resolutions? If so, share some with us. If not, why?
11 comments:
Thanks for your insights on New Year's resolutions, Dani. I just came across and wanted to share this practical article about the usefulness of NYRs: http://bit.ly/cOqnSh.
I try not to make New Year's resolutions, because cultural feedback imposes FAIL on them. Everybody "knows" that New Year's resolutions are made to be broken. So I call mine "plans" instead and make them before the New Year starts. I have quite a few, but my main writing plan is to put together a series bible for my NaNo mysteries (I have 3 roughed out).
And, yes, getting in better shape. And, yes, I've already started changing my eating and exercise habits. :)
Marian Allen
Like Marian, I don't call them resolutions, but there are goals. They are the usual suspects: eat less, exercise more, and write more. It's important to be specific so you know what you're shooting for. Last year I set a goal of losing 35 pounds and fell short by 10. That's okay; the new goal is 10. Also, I want to better about blogging and posting on other people's blogs. Long way to go there.
I don't make New Year's resolutions. I try to incorporated over time anything important in my life or that I feel I need to do. Like lose weight, get in shape, get out of debt, and write, write, which leads hopefully to sells, and many of them.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author
I've never found declarations of 'a new way' effective for me. Changes have to be organic, an internal evolution arising out of awareness that something is awry, and a developing awareness of what would be better. When I'm onto something that feels right, then I form an intention and internalized decision which morphs into taking action. If it comes from my head, as in I've decided to do ... , no way, it just never works. This is part of my ongoing process of self-management, any time of year. Experience and this stage of life show me that I can pick and choose and don't have to be hard on myself - I love being older!
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Okay - here's my #1 resolution for 2011: Stay off-line from noon to 6PM daily! Resolved!
I don't make resolutions at New Year's. For me, January is the time for clearing up old business--getting my taxes from the previous year together, getting the house undecorated and nice and bare, things like that. I do my stock-taking and direction-planning at Imbolc, or Candlemas, the holiday custom-made for it.
Goal-making. I like that better than new year's resolutions which are so easy to break. One of my goals is to write between 5000 and 7500 words a week the first two months of the new year for my new book. I have a goal of keeping up tennis, aerobics, and yoga for the new year as well.
Dani, learning something new every year is such a wonderful goal. I would love to learn to play a musical instrument but have no musical talent.
Monti
MaryMontagueSikes
I like your goals. They're straightforward and realistic. I seem to be learning more and more all the time. Sure hope I have an expand-o brain. =)
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Lynn
www.writeradvice.com
Author of You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers
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