topic NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS??? in Staying well

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS???

Guest_3072 — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 03:06:02 GMT

Hey everyone,

What do you guys think of new year's resolutions?

Do you guys have any for 2017?

...I need ideas lol

Gabby

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS???

Xavius — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 03:22:56 GMT

My resolution for 2017 is to do what I was supposed to in 2016, which I was supposed to do in 2015, 2014, 2013...

Jokes aside though, I need to focus on myself. I want to love myself. Planning on doing yoga and maybe pilates to help strengthen my crook back. I want to meet new people, make new friends and when I'm virtually pain free, maybe do something active.

Sure, resolutions don't happen most of the time, but there's always room to improve ourselves.

Richard

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS???

Elizabeth CP — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 04:42:13 GMT

'My resolution for 2017 is to do what I was supposed to in 2016, which I was supposed to do in 2015, 2014, 2013..' Richard said this with tongue in cheek but I actually do this for real. Each year I copy my goals for the previous year on a word document & then review them. I remove any that are no longer relevant but the rest stay. I decide did I achieve the goal in the past year or at least to a reasonable extent. That gives me a chance to feel good about myself. If I didn't achieve it I can then look at why not & if it is still a worthwhile goal decide what I can change to give me a better chance to succeed. Obviously there are some things you can tick off & don't need to redo & there are other things you want to add. I use my goals more as a plan to ensure I am living in a way that is consistent with my values. By having simple ongoing goals that feel good it feels more encouraging rather than massive goals which are too hard & lead to feelings of failure. Examples of goals on my list are exercising most days of the week to maintain fitness. I try to contact each of my children at least once a week. Going on a short holiday or at least a fun day trip once a month with my husband to maintain our relationship. Everyone will have different ideas of what is important for them

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS???

Doolhof — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 11:06:49 GMT

New Year's Resolutions to me are beneficial if they are positive and I can stick to them.

Usually I forget the next day that I even thought of making resolutions, so the concept doesn't really work well for me.

I can't see the point in beating myself up either if I can't stick to what I decided was a good thing to do.

When I have a good day and I am able to do great stuff, then that day is a good day, resolutions or not.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS???

Gruffudd — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 11:48:47 GMT

I like to contain such things as resolutions to about the first 48 hours.

Once we have jumped off the dining chairs at midnight (It's a nordic thing), what more is there to achieve in life?

So for 2017

I am going to continue doing the feel good things, Zombies Run, learning a new recipe each week, practicing my Welsh and French with friends I've made, gardening...

See if I can't manage a bit more socialisation as well.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS???

Elizabeth CP — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 06:25:41 GMT

Gruffudd Your News Years resolutions sound perfect. My interpretation of what you said is 'have fun on NYE doing something you and your friends/ family etc enjoy regardless of how crazy anyone else thinks it is. Then continue the new year doing things which feel good to you All NY resolutions should be things that you want to do, enjoy doing or you really believe will help you feel better in the future.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS???

Guest_3072 — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 06:33:46 GMT

Wow thanks everyone for all of your answers!!

I'm not sure what mine will be yet but you guys have definitely put some ideas into my head, maybe something to do with more exercise, I might join a gym and take on more leadership positions with the clubs that I am a part of, thanks guys!

Gabby

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS???

Doolhof — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 11:34:31 GMT

Hi Gabby,

Why not start with these ideas now?

Starting something at the beginning of a new year may feel more powerful and positive in some way, you can have that feeling any day if you work on it!

Occasionally when I have had a bad day, the next morning when I wake up, I tell myself I can make this new day better than the day I had experienced yesterday.

Sometimes that works well...other days stuff still happens that I don't enjoy.

A bit like New Year Resolutions, life can still get in the way. You might just have to take a different direction to gain results!

Cheers form Mrs. Dools

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS???

SubduedBlues — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 11:49:38 GMT

Top get rid of all that stuff that is weighing me down: the anxiety, the stigma and maybe some fat along the way.

It is my resolve to cut out artificially sweetened foods and to increase my exercise to at least an hour in the gym five times a week.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS???

Doolhof — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 22:25:25 GMT

Excellent ideas SB. Let me know how you manage to achieve them! Ha. Ha.

I have plenty of ideas, it is putting them into practise that I have trouble with!

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS???

girl_interrupted — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 00:16:36 GMT

I rarely follow NY resolutions. As Richard and Elizabeth have said, I tend to have all these goals and then either forget them or lose the motivation to start. Last year (actually, just prior to the new year) I started a diet in Dec, which I followed through til about May. I lost a lot of weight, started to exercise and felt much better about myself than I had in a long time. I need to do that again, with a more realistic approach and set goals that are achievable, instead of trying to take on too much. I've joined a meetup group which addresses these goals in a motivational, supportive way. If I can just find the courage to go to the meeting I'm sure it will be beneficial. Other than that, I have so much work to do:

- practice mindfulness,

work on my anger issues,

See a counselor

try to relax more with meditation,

organize my time schedule for work and uni,

find the courage to overcome my fear of crowds/people

join in more activities

exercise more

practice being assertive

practice smiling and laughing more

being thankful for what I have

being kind to others

Thats a start lol. As Mrs D has said, it's great to set these goals, another thing to put them into action! Good luck everyone - maybe we can keep track of each other's goals here?

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS???

Doolhof — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 06:46:31 GMT

Hi Girl interrupted,

Such an excellent list! I might attempt to make a list myself later on and a daily schedule.

Sounds like a good idea to check in here and help motivate each other, a bit like the Walking Thread that Shelley has started up again.

Cheers for now from Mrs. D

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS???

Elizabeth CP — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 08:53:59 GMT

Hi Your list is great as a start. I wrote a basic list like ours but then broke up some of the goals to be more specific. For example I wanted to exercise so I wrote that as a heading in a table on my computer. Underneath I wrote my reason for exercise ie what I wanted to achieve. Finally I wrote what I was going to do -walk each day for 30 min.

I wanted to relax more to reduce stress so wrote this down Then I listed different activities to try that I thought might be relaxing My aim was to do something relaxing each day. Obviously how you write up your goals is very personal but being clear why you are doing it is motivating & have ideas how to achieve the goal give you a better chance to succeed.

I recently read some good advice re goals & plans: Write your plans in sand. This means you have a definite plan increasing chance to succeed The sand means if something messes with the plan you just rub it out & rewrite it to suit so instead of failing you just do it differently. The sand is metaphorical. You don;t really have to go to the beach to plan anything

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS???

Gruffudd — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 12:47:18 GMT

I was rushing through the streets in Paris to the supermarket, rushing to take it all in. Then I realised that to remember it I needed to slow down, use all my senses, and enjoy the moment.

So I'm doing that. Amongst my overcrowded life I am slowing down for lots of moments in the day. I think that may be a resolution along with going to Paris with mother again.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS???

MsPurple — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 13:02:52 GMT

Everyone has such good ideas!

I am wanting to work on myself and my self confidence. I have started to be ok with my body. I was diagnosed with EDNOS almost 10 years ago, which I have been recovered for like 8 years maybe more (still have slip ups but nothing major). I am a bit heavier then I would like but I am not making a goal around weight. Instead I am gonna make a goal about strength. I have started going to the gym and getting fit, but I still have poor upper body strength and just general strength. I am wanting to work on that. And work on doing weights and not critising how I look in the mirror. As a result I hope to tone. I do not want to focus on the scales anymore. So I think this is a pretty big goal. I would also love to do a pull up and 10 male/feet push ups 🙂 I want to leave my EDNOS body image behind and work on rocking my big booty for what it is. Beautiful and comfy to sit on

I also want to book a holiday to the USA or go to the USA (if it is still ok post presidential change). I also want to get a job in my field 🙂

I am going to take baby steps to achieve my goals for example: Go to the gym at least 4 times and week and do some weights with cardio. Pick up extra shifts when asked to save for a holiday deposit, do medidation on self acceptance, throw away clothes that do not look good or do not fit (stop keeping them in the hope I lose cm/kg)

Thanks for the post. Kinda put a smile on my face. This time last year I would have wanted weight loss and things that shouldn't be important. I just want to be fit and accepting of myself and just happy 🙂

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS???

Guest_322 — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 22:05:58 GMT

Awesome resolutions everyone! Thanks for this thread, Gabby!

Also, thanks for the funnies too, Gruffud...maybe I should try this chair jumping business too ha, ha.

I'm a bit of a perfectionist so am known for my epic lists. I rarely achieve everything on my list but I do find that I generally achieve between 1-3 each year.

For 2017, my list is relatively short:

- maintain my grades for honours (so stressful...groans)

- obtain some basic research experience (paid/unpaid, I'm not fussed- I just want in on it)

- broaden my work experience in MH and NFP sectors.

- take shorter showers (I'm more wasteful than I would like to admit). I'm thinking of using a timer as that would help ha, ha. I'm actually serious though...

- save to travel overseas (not sure if it's realistic as I'm almost always broke and rent, bills, food, etc is always a higher priority) but hey, it's still a goal.

- to be there for my friends (this one is ongoing so not just limited to NY).

- this is probably the big and overarching resolution, and also isn't limited to the NY. Maybe it sounds a bit idealistic and naive but it's very important to me: to live in accordance with my personal principles and beliefs. I feel if I try my hardest to use this mentality in my daily life that I'll be on track 😊

Dottie x

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS???

girl_interrupted — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 01:17:00 GMT

Thanks Mrs D. Your input is always valued and appreciated. Definitely a good idea to motivate each other. As Elizabeth has said, it's probably a good idea to break down the goals and be specific. I read somewhere (when Googling) about goal setting:

SMART: The acronym SMART has several slightly different variations, which can be used to provide a more comprehensive definition of goal
setting:

S - specific, significant, stretching.

M - measurable, meaningful, motivational.

A - agreed upon, attainable, achievable, acceptable, action-oriented.

R - Realistic, Relevant

T - Timely

So I will try to stick to this. No point writing a goal if you aren't specific and dedicated to achieving that goal. I tend be like "oh yeah, really want to do that" but it's very vague and so I rarely achieve it. Hopefully I can come up with some realistic goals to add soon. Best of luck with yours. 🙂

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS???

girl_interrupted — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 01:23:28 GMT

Hi Gruffudd,

Paris sounds wonderful! Did you live there or just visit? I wish that I'd done Europe in my 20s. It's one of those things that you really benefit from when you're young - having no ties etc and being able to explore everything at your own pace, not having to worry about a mortgage, pets, partner etc. You'll have to upload some pics - if allowed, we'd love to see some of the places you visited.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS???

girl_interrupted — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 01:29:00 GMT

Hi Elizabeth,

I like your idea of "writing it in the sand" and you're right - gotta be more specific with goals, but allow for corrections and changes. Haha - if it wasn't so dam hot I'd go to the beach and deliberately write some "unwanted stuff" in the sand, just to "wipe the slate clean" so to speak lol. Thank you for your post. I'll try to follow your example and do the headings, then write specific stuff underneath. I usually get all muddled and sidetracked lol so let's see how I go (I'm really disorganized and un-co). Best of luck and keep us updated with yours. 🙂

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS???

girl_interrupted — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 01:41:01 GMT

It's so hard to accept our bodies when there's so much pressure to be the perfect, thin, attractive, sexy woman. For me, I still struggle with my body and accepting who I am. Well done to you on overcoming that obstacle, it must've taken great courage and strength, perseverance, and determination. We all have set backs but you've accomplished a great deal so be proud of yourself for that. I like your goal about strength. We all have it, it's just a matter of how we tap into it. Gym is a great idea! If only it weren't so bloody expensive. Maybe you could ask for a couple of PT sessions? I'm petrified of weights lol. Being so socially withdrawn I really struggled with approaching anyone for this and would usually go when hardly anyone was around lol.

As a new member, they often provide 1 free lesson or maybe get friendly with a male body builder hahah. Not criticizing self in the mirror - whoa that's a tough one. But look at you - you're doing it! Scales are evil! Go by how you feel and eventually, your dress size/cloths will drop a size etc. You have some great goals! Especially - self acceptance. It's not the figures (kg etc) but how it makes you feel that counts. 🙂