by Justine Deputy, RN, MSN
Instead of New Year’s resolutions, I like to think of them as New Year’s goals. What is the actual difference between a resolution and a goal? According to Google, a resolution is “a firm decision to do or not to do something” and a goal is “the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result”. A goal seems much more practical and adaptable. It’s not about the importance of giving yourself an out. It’s about the importance of understanding that circumstances change and as we progress towards a certain goal we may realize what we thought was our ideal is not feasible, does not make the most sense, or isn’t our ideal. There could be a better way to do it or something that better fits your life. Maybe we can’t fully understand what our year is going to be like until we are in it. Similar to having a baby, we can make plans for how we want to do certain things but we might not know what will work best until the baby is actually here.
What Are Your Goals?
I have informally done this in pieces here and there, many of us probably have, but specifically taking the time to sit down and focus on the past year and upcoming year can be more beneficial. Take time to reflect on your past year. This may be with yourself, or with your partner. Then, after looking back at this past year, talk about what you want this next year to look like. Make it a date. Head to a coffee shop and have yourself a warm beverage. Bring a notebook or tablet to write things down. Take time to relax and really think things through. If you are with your partner, talk about each of you individually and you and your family as a unit. Check back in on these notes throughout the year. Maybe once every 3-4 months. Then, if needed you can adjust your goals rather than just giving up on them completely.
Maybe you have nutrition goals, health goals, fitness goals, career goals, or family goals, likely you have more than one. Determine what you want to see this year. Make it a goal. Have flexibility for when things don’t exactly go the way you thought they would. And have a wonderful year! The Birth Center provides pregnancy, labor, birth, postpartum, and GYN services to women from adolescence through menopause. We provide full-scope care for women of all ages from teens to post-menopausal. Our focus is to empower our clients through holistic health management and education.