Imagine it’s just before midnight on December 31, 2023. As you fight to keep your eyes open amongst the sparklers, confetti, and over tired children, you reflect on the year that’s gone by. Days filled with busy schedules, homework, lessons, chores, appointments, and more than what seems physically possible to fit into a 24 hour period. What can you do differently in 2024? What did you change from the year before that was helpful in 2023? Did you achieve anything you hoped for?

If you haven’t set goals in years past, you’re not alone. Many feel so overwhelmed by all the things they’d like to improve on, that they don’t ever start. Others fear they won’t achieve the goals they set out to accomplish, which prevents them from setting goals in the first place. So… why do it? Why follow through? Setting goals helps make sense of the chaos. If done correctly, it takes our to-do lists and ambitions and narrows them down to small actionable items. Goals also hold us accountable and foster personal growth, all great things for our long term wellbeing.

If you’re reading this and thinking, “I  SHOULD set goals, but HOW do I do it?”, here are a few tips to help you get started:

First and foremost, you can’t decide where you’re going without first establishing where you’ve been.

Take some time to reflect on the year you’ve had. Focus on your values, and understand what matters to you the most. Ask yourself:

• What did I do well this year?
• What could I have done better?
• How have I grown?
• Have I made an impact on someone or something?
  
  

Asking these types of questions challenges us to think beyond the glorified goals of “weight loss” and “healthy eating” as this pressure seems to return with a vengeance every January, in the form of detox teas and New Year’s fitness guides. A New Year does not have to reflect a “New You” in the mirror or on the scale. A “New You” can more lovingly be defined as learning a new skill, practicing daily self-care, spending less time on social media, or making dinner 3 times a week with the help of Citrus Pear. Just remember to stick to the age old method of setting SMART goals, making them SMALL, MEASURABLE, ATTAINABLE, RELEVANT, and TIME-BOUND.

If setting goals/resolutions just doesn’t feel like “your thing”, that’s ok! Your mind may be telling you, “I’m already doing enough!” To add more would tip the scales toward exhaustion and burnout. Research shows that only 10% of people stick to their resolutions, and burnout is likely a big contributor. Consider identifying an “intention” for the New Year, rather than a “resolution”. An intention is a positive call to action about something you want to do, rather than something you don’t want to do but feel that you “should. Setting an intention is about giving direction or meaning; guiding the action. You can set intentions daily, weekly, or monthly as it’s not necessary to initiate changes to be kept all year long. Be mindful when setting intentions to make them specific, positive, proactive, and something you will feel committed to. Some examples of intentions are:

• Stretch daily
• Relax more often
• Practice mindfulness
• Love yourself and others
• Eat more Citrus Pear 😋
  
  

Remember,  you are in charge! You can adjust or completely rewrite your goals or intentions in the middle of the year. Even if you don’t achieve your goals or intentions, setting them helps you to be more productive, mindful, and self aware of your actions. “What the new year brings to you, will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year” - Vern Mclellan

For more tips on overall wellness and healthy meal planning in the new year, see these previous blog posts from Citrus Pear:

Bring It Back to the Basics

Give Your Heart What it Wants with Citrus Pear

Meal Prep Tricks and Tips

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