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Checking In With Yourself After The First Week Of The Year

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checking in after the first week of the new year - Pinterest graphic

Can you believe that we’ve already seen the first week of 2023 come and go? For many people, this is a hectic week. You’re getting back into your work routine after taking a break for the holidays. Most of the time, it is the same week your kids are headed back to school. The traffic is crazy. Life is crazy. Yet, we put these additional goals and resolutions on our plates. That’s why checking in with yourself is the best thing you can do to stay on track with your annual resolutions.

Why Checking In Is Important

There are a plethora of reasons why checking in with yourself is important, especially when it comes to goal-setting. Believe it or not, if you don’t check in on yourself, and your mental and physical health, you won’t reach your goals. More important than that, you can pinpoint why you set those goals and how the process makes you feel.

For instance, one of my goals is to lose weight this year, like many other people. In the past, I usually fasted, cut out large food groups entirely, and went about things in an unhealthy way. Of course, I started to try and do that again this year. After checking in with myself, I knew it would not be healthy to start the year out with an extended fast. Instead, I’ve focused my time and energy on making and eating healthy meals at home this week while cutting caffeine and sugar.

Checking in allows you to step back and assess everything from how you feel to how achieving your goals will make you feel. Most of all, it ensures that you are okay every step of the way.

How To Check In With Yourself

If you’re not sure how to check in with yourself, don’t worry! There are plenty of things you can do to check in and see how you’re feeling. Here are a few things I do to unplug and check on myself.

  1. Journal. Writing things down is a great way to get them out of your head. For me, it is a good idea to write down the things that are on my mind or the things that are worrying me/weighing me down. It allows me to get those thoughts out of my head and onto paper.
  2. Practice self-care. My favorite form of self-care is a nice hot bath with a good book. This allows time to unplug and check in with my body. Plus, reading is a soothing activity for me.
  3. Assess whether or not I’m overwhelmed. I’m ambitious and I like to set a lot of goals for myself. However, this can be more detrimental than it is good. Sometimes I need to take a step back and assess whether I’m overwhelmed or not and decide right then and there what can be taken off my plate.
  4. Take it one day at a time. This is the best advice anyone can give you! Some days are going to be great, you’ll make fantastic progress and work on all the good habits you’re trying to build. Other days, it’ll be great to just get out of bed and feed yourself. That’s okay too.
  5. Do something that brings me joy. Whether it is hanging out with a friend, curling up with a good book, or just a mug of hot tea, find something that brings you joy and do that thing. It is a great way to check in and give yourself a good mental health boost.

How often are you checking in with yourself and making sure you’re okay?

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How to Keep Up With Your Resolutions

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keep up with your resolutions

A lot of people spent time reflecting on last year and setting fantastic goals for 2021. While we didn’t set any hardcore New Year’s resolutions this year, many people still did. The biggest triumph of all though is being able to stick to your plans and reach those goals throughout the year. Below are a few tips on how to keep up with your resolutions (even when you lose steam).

Setting Reasonable Goals

First and foremost, it is key to set reasonable goals for yourself. If your aspirations are too lofty, you may wind up running out of enthusiasm early on. Instead, focus on more obtainable, smaller goals that will help you reach the longer-term aspirations that you may have.

When setting personal goals, it is important to have a “big picture” in mind. For instance, if you are setting a debt payoff goal for the year, think about all of your financial goals, not just your debt freedom. If you want to invest, save money, and buy a home, be sure to include those things in your planning too. Be sure you are setting reasonable goals for yourself within the grand scheme of things.

Another thing many people suggest is setting SMART Goals for yourself. We discussed SMART Goals on the blog a while back, you can read more about them here. SMART Goals can help you hone in on the specifics of what you’d like to accomplish, when, and how.

Tips to Keep Up With Your Resolutions

If you find you have trouble trying to keep up with your resolutions, you’re not alone. A lot of people abandon those dreams by the end of January (seriously). However, there are a few tips you can consider to help better set you up for success.

  1. Keep your goals specific. As mentioned above, the more specific you are in your goal-setting, the more likely you will be to reach them.
  2. Make exact plans as to how you will accomplish it. You won’t reach your goals if you don’t have a plan of action.
  3. Plan for how you will cope and learn triggers. Much of the time, resolutions are about resolving bad behaviors. You should learn your triggers (i.e. spending triggers) and figure out how to cope without giving up focus.
  4. Replace bad habits with good ones. If you are an overspender, become an over-saver.

Last but not least, pick a change you actually want to make. Many people spend time trying to reach goals they don’t truly desire. For example, people strive to live healthier lives and at the beginning of each year commit to exercising every day. That isn’t something most people want to do. Instead, you can find ways to live a healthier lifestyle (i.e. make time for outdoor activities and eat better).

No matter what, it is important not to lose faith in your goals and aspirations. Everything takes time, especially when it comes to lifelong goals. Be patient with yourself.

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