Depending on the year you had in 2023, you might be relieved it’s almost over. This year had its ups and downs and you may have learned some difficult lessons but pat yourself on the back for surviving it all.
The start of a New Year brings hope, a sense of a new beginning, and a fresh start. Maybe you made resolutions of how you’ll change your life and achieve your dreams in the coming year, however, if you make the same choices and continue unhealthy, self-sabotaging habits, chances are nothing will change.
What do you need to leave behind so you are truly ready and capable of living your best life in 2020? The list could be endless but let’s discuss 5 things that many of us need to ditch and not take into the New Year.
1. Toxic Relationships Disguised as Friendships
If you have relationships that drain all your energy and leave you feeling worse about yourself, you might need to let them go. You deserve friends who support you and have your back.
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We sometimes find ourselves in one-sided relationships where we’re the only ones putting in consistent effort. If you’re the one who’s always calling and arranging the dates or begging the other person to take more interest in you or your life, you should re-evaluate your relationship. It’s important in the new year to find relationships that bring out the best in you.
2. Ignoring Your Gut
Our instincts are a gift to us. If used properly they could help us make better choices for our lives. Choices which are consistent with our values and are in our best interests. Your inner voice will tell you when someone’s motives aren’t genuine. They will tell you when you need to rethink a decision you’ve made. Your intuition will not lead you in the wrong direction.
3. Being Paralyzed By Fear
The purpose of fear is to motivate us into action such as avoiding danger or being more prepared and focused on a task. Fear is emotional energy that can be used to propel us, but for some, fear can lead to paralysis. Fear of the future, fear of rejection, and even fear of failure can prevent us from taking risks and trying new things.
Let’s face it, we all deal with fear on some level and will never totally get rid of it, but we don’t have to. Successful people are those who act and go after their dreams despite being afraid. So, can you.
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4. Negative Self-Talk
Sometimes our biggest critics are our own selves. We’re all too familiar with that inner voice which tells us we’re not good enough or that we don’t have what it takes to succeed.
However, what we say to ourselves is very important. It can determine if we achieve the goals we’ve set or if we remain stuck. So, in 2020, let’s silence the inner critic and be kinder to ourselves.
5. Living In The Past
We rob ourselves of enjoying the present moment or having a better future when we fixate on situations that have already happened. We can’t go back in time and change what occurred, we can only move forward.
Being consumed with thoughts of who hurt you or what went wrong and rehearsing your pain will only prevent you from moving on. Leave the past in the past, your future can be better if you give it a chance.
Make this coming year your best one yet by letting go of the negative behaviors and people who held you back in 2019. No need to wait, you can start now!
Physician, Health and Wellness expert, Coach, Author and Speaker! Dr. Kelly Wood, MD is board certified in Internal Medicine as well as Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. Beyond the stethoscope, Dr. Kelly is recognized as “The Bounce Back Coach,” helping high-performing women to bounce back from failed relationships, rebuild their self-esteem, and reclaim their identity. Follow me on social media @drkellywoodmd or connect with me at [email protected]
Four Ways To Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions Far Into 2020
We're a few days into the new year and it's possible you've already broken a resolution, or two. At the end of each year, over 40 percent of Americans set their New Year’s Resolutions, according to Forbes.
However, that same article states that only 8 percent of Americans actually keep their resolutions throughout the entire year. Even though most people give up on their New Year’s resolutions by the first week of February, the good thing to know is that this process can change. By making simple changes in your mindset and the way you set your goals for the New Year, you can maintain resolutions and see a change that will last the entire year and more.
Many people have an idea in their minds about what they would like to change over the next year but oftentimes, this idea is too generic and lacks enough detail to be executed thoroughly. Take for example the common goal of losing weight. Just stating that you want to lose weight is not enough.
Even stating the amount of weight you want to lose is not enough. You have to get detailed and plan out how you’re actually going to lose the weight. Pinpoint what triggers your weight gain and work to demolish those areas. If food is a large factor, decide which foods you need to eat less to lose weight. If you need to work out more, write out exactly how many times a week you’re going to work out and decide which exercises you will do during that time.
Making a detailed plan decreases confusion when it’s time to get to work and motivates you to get started on improving yourself.
Having someone check up on your progress keeps you on track to achieving your goals. Knowing that a friend will call weekly to see how you’re doing will help to motivate you to stick to your goals. Get a buddy to hold you accountable that is dedicated to seeing you grow and truly wants to help you during your process but be open to nosiness!
Be open and flexible to any changes that need to be made to your resolutions. You may get a new job that requires more of your time but you really want to stick to your goals. Be flexible enough to change the plan you made at the beginning of the year to fit your new circumstances. Do not become frustrated and give up but adapt to new ways of reaching your goals.
You may become weary but keep working hard! Sometimes change requires the most consistent work so remember to keep working hard on the change you want to see in your life. Making these small changes to your New Year’s resolutions can be the difference between this year and last year. Remember to stay focused and keep working hard!
