Five Things You Can Do Instead of New Year’s Resolutions
Fresh alternatives to help you celebrate 2012 and get to your 2013 goals.
Published on December 29, 2012 by Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D. in The Science of Willpower
Tired of the traditional New Year’s resolution to lose weight, get fit, or get out of credit card debt?
Below are five fresh alternatives to help you celebrate yourself in 2012, and get to your goals in 2013.
1. Write yourself a letter from your future self, dated 1/1/2014. Imagine looking back at 2013, from a place of having achieved your most important goal for the year. In your letter, thank your present self for all you did to achieve your goals—and be specific. Or give yourself some compassionate advice from your wiser, 2014 self. Research shows that connecting to your future self in this way can help you make a difficult change and succeed at your goals.
2. List your favorite memories and triumphs of 2012, including the challenges you faced with courage or humor (even if things didn’t turn out the way you hoped). Studies show that remembering your strengths increases future perseverance and willpower; and reminiscing about the past increases future happiness.