New Year, New Mindset
New Mindset
New Year, New Mindset
As the year comes to a close and we approach a brand new one, it is normal to feel nostalgic and excited at the same time. It is a great opportunity to reflect on both the good things and bad things that happened over the past year. Upon reflecting, there may be certain aspects about your life that you want to change or keep the same. Although having new year’s resolutions are great, setting a new mindset is the best way to ensure your resolutions are met and goals achieved. It will also help in holding yourself accountable. Research shows that the more we engage a negative mindset the more negative, anxiety-ridden, and depressing our lives become. Thus, let’s all adopt a positive, growth mindset!
Here are three ways to build a new mindset in the new year:
Consider how you’ve changed: Good or bad we are forced to make changes to adapt to our circumstances such as a pandemic. Take a moment to reflect and consider how you changed to accommodate all that changed for the world. Consider how your routine is different, how your interaction with others is different or how you spend your time is different? Are you more flexible with yourself? Are you less booked? Are you more focused or less focused? How did you surprise yourself this year with your ability to adjust?
Consider what you’ve gained: You’ve seen you can adjust. What did you gain from this experience? Recognize your resilience for adjusting and getting out of your comfort zone. What did you learn about yourself as a result? Did you find you could be more flexible than you thought? Did you find that your close friends and family became even closer or that you recognized what you value and what you take for granted? Did you find out you need people more than you realized or perhaps you are more independent than you ever knew you could be? Did you become closer to your family, your partner, your children? Make a list of how you’ve grown as a person. It takes courage to make these kinds of changes, but you did it.
Develop new goals based on #1 and #2: With all of the uncertainty the pandemic has brought, it has also brought a time out. A time to reconsider who you are and what you need, consider what you want to let go of and what you want to take with you into 2022. Consider what is most significant to you and what you have spent time and energy on that is useless and meaningless in the big scheme of your life.
Be honest and keep it real. These goals may be something personal and private, and one that does not need to be shared. Don’t judge yourself for wanting certain things, or wanting to let some things go. Once you are able to be real with yourself, write these goals down in a journal or notebook that you can refer back to later.
Here are other tips on how to develop your goals and keep a positive mindset.
Tools for Goal Setting
Platform created by Google for project management, but has features that aid in individual goal setting.
Can create multiple to-do lists covering various “sections” of your life.
Set deadlines and assign sub-goals to the different sections.
A platform dedicated to goal setting, and puts you through the paces of creating SMART goals.
You can easily track your progress and hold yourself accountable for the efforts towards attaining your goals.
An app that acts as your to do list, perfect for your “mini” goals that lead to your bigger goals.
This way, you will never have to set aside your smaller goals in order to achieve your main goals.
Post-It Notes
Although online platforms are awesome, sometimes writing your goals down with pen and paper is just as powerful.
Writing them down on sticky notes and placing them strategically in places you frequent is an effective way to remind yourself what you are striving towards.
Journal
Journaling presents a perfect opportunity to not only jot down your goals, but also to write down your thoughts and reflect.
Support System
Letting your close friends and family (your support system) know what your goals are can help hold you accountable.
Being around others who also set goals can keep you motivated to attaining your goals.