Miniso Year In Review: The Best Is Yet To Come

2021 for most, has been an exciting roller coaster ride. To quote Forrest Gump, "Life is a box of chocolates, you'll never know what you're going to get." In just a few weeks, we'll be welcoming 2022 and everyone is excited for the New Year to unfold. With New Year comes New Year's resolution. One of the most misconceptions about creating a resolution is that it needs to be yours. However, your resolution doesn't have to be all about you. It can be about your loved ones or the goals you want to achieve. 

Many resolutions fail every year because they're unrealistic or unachievable. Before you come up with your own resolution, here are some tips to increase your chances of reaching your New Year goals. 

Let's first examine why resolutions fail:

• Your resolution is based on what other people are telling you. 
• You don't have a clear goal.
• Your goals are impossible.

When creating a New Year's resolution, it needs to be SMART-an acronym that stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound. Let's dig deeper into each of time before you jump right into creating a plan for the New Year. 

Specific. When we say specific, the goal should be clear and concrete. Say, you want to lose weight and while it's doable, how would you start if you don't have a clear goal? You can't just lose weight without targeting a specific goal weight and time frame. Your goal setting will be more effective if you include details. 

Measurable. While goals that have to do with weight loss or fitness are measurable, other resolutions need to be measurable as well. If you want to stop procrastinating, you should keep a note of the tasks you've accomplished or deadlines you've successfully met. Logging your progress will help you to determine whether or not you're sticking to your goals. 

Achievable. When I say achievable, it doesn't mean you shouldn't set big goals rather achieve these big goals one step at a time. So if your resolution is to save money, you should also keep your earnings and spending habits in mind. 

Relevant. Your resolution should be something that matters to you. Find out what's good for you. It shouldn't be fleeting and temporary. It should help you change your life's structure. 

Time-bound. The timeline in reaching your goals needs to be realistic. losing 50 pounds in one month isn't achievable so focus on small steps and gradual progress. If you're planning to quit smoking, going cold turkey is possible but not realistic. 

Road to Behavioral Change

Make your resolution personal 

A resolution shouldn't be for someone else but for yourself. Whether you want to kick a bad habit or you want to improve your life, it will require some work for you to figure out how you can make that change. Slow and steady wins the race. So for example, if your resolution is to be more physically active in 2022, try putting on a pair of running shoes. There's no need to do anything afterwards, just let your body feel your new routine. Keep in mind that it's your goal and the goal of others so slow progress is still progress.

Accept that change is hard

No matter how clear your goals are, there will be setbacks that you have to face. Just because your approach doesn't work for the first time, doesn't mean you should give up. Don't be too hard on yourself. You can always get back on track and as long as there's progress, it means your strategy is working. 

Find a special group

Sometimes, it takes a little push for you to keep going so to hold yourself accountable for your actions, consider searching for a community that will support you. Nothing is more motivating than people who want to see you succeed. These are the kind of group you need to surround yourself with. You can also make your goal public using social media, but be very careful because using social media for motivation also requires a strong push because it's possible to receive unsolicited feedback. 

Avoid bad influences

You will succeed with your resolution if you keep your eye on the prize, but what if someone isn't 100% supportive of your journey? Cut back on bad influences if you are determined to focus on your goals. 

What if you didn't keep your resolution?

Missing your goal isn't equivalent to failure. If at first you don't succeed, keep on trying until you achieve your goals. Whether it's your 1st or 10th attempt, never beat yourself because you're not alone in this journey. There's always an opportunity to start fresh.