iDEAL

The New Year is around the corner and it’s time to reflect on this one and start setting goals for 2023. Of course, you’re super excited to start the year off right and you promise yourself that this will be your year, the year where you achieve everything you set yourself to.

Nevertheless, it’s likely that as days, weeks, and months pass by, you will go back to doing things the way you’ve always done them and getting the same results. In order to avoid this and to actually make this next year your year, we’ve put together a few tips to help you build momentum and ensure you start your year off right and resolutions are achieved.

1- Set reasonable goals with a why and make them measurable

When establishing your goals, be realistic and selective. If you make a goal unattainable, you’ll fall short of it. So, before setting a goal you should examine it carefully to make sure it’s realistically achievable. This will maximize your time and resources and will keep you motivated.

What you can do is write down your goals. The simple act of writing them down will help you analyze your expectations. If once you see them written down they don’t match the goals you imagined for yourself, regroup and try again. This also will help you find the purpose and the why for each goal, which will be a further motivation and reminder in the future.

Once you’ve done that, it’s time to check on the resources you need that can help you achieve your goals and the circumstances which may impede your success. These can include:

Time. Determine how much time you have to reach your goals and whether the timeline is in your control. Make a list of the things you can and can’t control.
Motivation. Ask yourself where you’re committed to achieving your goals and why.
Training. Take inventory of the skills you have to reach your goals and investigate which ones you’ll need to learn.
Budget. Check if you have the monetary assets you need to achieve your goals.

In on of our recent blog post we mention our favourite way to track your goals, using the 5-minute journal.

2- Make course corrections if necessary

If you find yourself heading in the wrong direction, don’t hesitate to course correct. Goals need to be adjustable as you go, they’re not carved in stone. It’s important to check with yourself every once in a while and listen to the limits of your body and do what feels right. And if this means slowing down or changing directions, it’s okay. You have to do what feels right. The idea is to take a little step each day but never stop or punish yourself.

3- Talk about your goals with friends and family

It’s important to have a support system, especially when it comes to achieving goals. So we encourage you to talk about your goals with friends and family. This not only will give tons of support but also respect for others’ goals and your own. It’s also a great way to keep accountable with yourself and your goals.

Having a support system will also help you when things don’t go as planned. If something goes wrong, don’t hesitate and ask for help. There’s no shame in admitting you need assistance. All the opposite, it will give you a whole new perspective and respect for your goal and for yourself.

4- Learn something new every day

Instead of trying to learn everything on January first, why don’t you try to learn little by little and understand the things you’re learning?

Learn something new every day, even if it’s small. It’s important to keep an open mind to learning new things about your body. This will probably help you understand how your body works and will help you achieve your goals faster.

5- Keep a positive mentality

Every year we all start with a fresh, energetic, and positive mentality. Try to keep this mentality throughout the whole year. Even on the bad days, as hard and difficult as they get. This will make you mentally stronger, and also will help your mental peace. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Remember your ‘why’ whenever you’re doing something, but also remember to be mindful of your body’s needs and limits. Don’t push things if they don’t feel right. Being healthy is not only eating healthy and exercising but also having good mental health.

6- Try Dry January

For those of you who might be unfamiliar with this term, what Dry January basically means is ditching the booze for a month to start the year off right. This is a very common New Year's Resolution for many people.

As fun as alcohol can be, stop drinking it will always bring benefits to your life. It’s a great way to set yourself up for success when planning on having a healthier lifestyle. It will also help you save money, sleep better, and drop the extra holiday weight. It will also help you reevaluate the relationship you have with booze and maybe change the narrative and reduce your consumption for the rest of the year.

If you try it, by the end of the month you’ll probably realize that:

You don’t need alcohol to be sociable or to have fun.
You have more energy to spend on quality activities like a run, learn new things, etc.
You have extra money to spend on healthier options than alcohol, or to save.
You have more mental clarity and focus.
You’re sleeping better.
You don’t have as many cravings.

Our founder, Louisa, tried it for a month and in this podcast she tells us what her experience was like.

7- Invest in quality food

Another great way to set yourself up for success is to invest in the quality of the foods you’re eating. Whenever possible, try to buy local and organic foods, high-quality proteins, healthy snacks, and seasonal fruits and vegetables. This will help boost your immune system and your body will thank you forever.

If you’re asking yourself how to start the year off right? Give at least one or two things from this list a try. Setting yourself up for success is easier than you think. You just have to start, commit to yourself and be mindful of it.

7 Ways to Start the Year Off Right