Planning for a Happy and Healthy New Year
As 2021 wraps, lots of people are reviewing their year and deciding on ways to continue working on themselves in the new year. As you consider your upcoming resolution, consider these goal-setting tips and new year ideas for a happy and healthy 2022.
Tips for Setting and Achieving Goals
If you’re new to goal setting or have not had much success in achieving your goals in the past, consider these tips for setting and achieving goals in the new year.
Start small
At the start of the new year, you might feel ambitious and want to set an important goal. And while it is fantastic to push your expectations, you want to be realistic with what you can achieve. Start small and build on your goals throughout the year to help you stick to them. If you’re going to take better care of your physical health in the new year, instead of planning a vigorous workout routine and diet, start by scheduling an appointment with your doctor for an assessment of your overall health. Starting small will allow you to check off milestones and celebrate small achievements throughout the way.
Identify actionable steps
Once you’ve set your goals for the new year, you need to identify actionable steps for how you’re going to achieve that goal. If you want to feel more financially secure, what steps can you take to build your wealth? Or, if you want to improve your mental health, what actions can help you feel better?
Try to identify three to five actionable steps for any goal you set to help you achieve your goal. Then put a deadline for each action. Having a due date to complete each step will help hold yourself accountable for working toward your goal throughout the year.
Stay Flexible
When setting goals, people’s greatest mistakes are creating an “all-or-nothing” plan. These goals are unrealistic because they don’t allow you the space to evolve and make mistakes. For example, if a person’s goal is to stop smoking and approach it with an “all-or-nothing” mindset, they’re telling themselves that they’ve failed at their goal if they smoke at all.
Instead, frame your goals to have small milestones where’ you’re gradually working to reach your destination. If you want to quit smoking, start by reducing how much you smoke per day or week instead of cutting it out completely. Then continue to reduce that amount until you’re unable to go a day without smoking. Keep setting these milestones and stay flexible with your goals, and you’ll find they’re a lot easier for you to keep.
Goals to Consider in the New Year
Not sure what types of goals to set in 2022? Consider these ideas for a happy and healthy new year.
- Adopt a pet. If you enjoy taking care of others and miss having kids at home, you may find joy in adopting a pet. Visit your local animal shelter and talk to them about your lifestyle and what you’d like in a pet. They’ll be able to match you with the perfect cat, dog, or another animal.
- Learn something new. You’re never too old to learn something new. Plus, continuing to learn is a great way to keep your mind sharp. You can sign up for a class at a local community college or find a free online course to take.
- Build your social circle. We have all spent a lot of time indoors the past two years, and you may be experiencing loneliness in a new way. Build your social circle and prevent social isolation by joining clubs, starting a social media account, or asking friends and family to introduce you to new people.
Working with Visiting Angels
If your plan for a healthier new year includes finding at-home care, the team at Visiting Angels San Luis Obispo County can help. Our compassionate team of caregivers assists seniors with various tasks such as light housekeeping, meal preparations, mobility assistance, personal grooming, transportation, and more. Our San Luis Obispo office serves those in San Luis Obispo County, California. If you’d like to learn more about our services, you can call 805.546.2080 or complete this online form.
