New Year’s Resolutions

How may years in a row have you made a New Years Resolution and then failed to follow through with it? I too have done this and then regretted it down the road. I have learned though not to beat myself up for it. Instead, I have decided to find ways to keep those resolutions.

First, I had to really think about what I wanted. I decided to chance my mindset about it all. You see, in the past I had always given up something as part of New Years Resolutions. I guess I thought that was the way it had to be. I had made a vow to lose weight, to stop drinking so much coffee, and all of those common things that so many people do.

This year, my New Years Resolutions involve giving myself more. Now, before you think I am being selfish I want to share with you what I am giving myself of. It isn’t anything that is bad for me! Over the holidays I get to spend time with friends and family and I really enjoy it. Yet I don’t get to visit with them nearly enough throughout the year.

This is why I have made a new Years Resolution to do so. Those that are living close to me are going to get more initiations from me to meet for lunch, to spend an afternoon watching movies, and even to come over with their entire family to hang out. Those that don’t live locally are going to get more emails from me, phone calls, and photos of my family throughout the year.

I have decided to give myself more sleep at a New Years Resolution. I have stated in past years that I would have a positive outlook on life in general. I have found that is hard to do when you are going on 4 or 5 hours of sleep a night. So I am establishing a bedtime for me and sticking to it. Plus, I am going to cut out Saturday morning events now and then so I can sleep in if I want to.

Spending more quality time with my husband and my kids is on my list of New Years Resolutions. While I am with them often, I find we are all doing our own thing. Coming up with some great activities we can all take part in is going to change that. If the dishes have to sit in the sit then so be it!

I have always loved to read, but find I do it now when I have to instead of getting to enjoy novels. To ensure my hobby gets more time I am joining a local reading club. The group selects a book, everyone reads it, and then we meet to discuss it. I think this will also allow me to meet some terrific people.

Every single one of my New Years Resolutions are things I really want to accomplish this year. I am confident I will be able to succeed and that my life will be better because of the decisions I am making. New Years Resolutions don’t have to be about giving up things. They also don’t have to be out of reach so accomplish what you set out to do with them.