Queens Scene

Keep Your Resolutions Going Strong!





Track your progress and mark your achievements. Photos Public Domain

Track your progress and mark your achievements. Photos Public Domain

In January your gym was flooded with newcomers, your coworkers came to work on time, and your best friend swore they’d stop drinking. Thinking of all the “could’ves” and “should’ves” leads people to write lists of things they want to improve or do in the new year, ie: New Year’s Resolutions. People all over the world set this time aside to think about how they can make the new year better for themselves. It is all about making your life as positive as you can, and changing things you aren’t happy with. Even though New Year’s resolutions consist of all types of things, from health and exercise to getting rid of character flaws, and they can be hard to write. Common New Year’s Resolutions are to prioritize healthy routines like going to the gym, eating healthier, quitting excessive smoking or drinking; but also to save money, cherish friends and family (ie: being grateful), find a new hobby, read more often, or stop procrastinating.

Improve your body

Improve your body

(If you still haven’t come up with any, here’s some help on how to make one: First, reflect on the past year – what were some lessons you learned from mistakes? What in 2018 had a negative effect on your year – that’s in your control – and how can you change it? Whatever they are, make your resolutions based on what you thought of.)

The hardest part of New Year’s resolutions is not making them, but keeping them. For the first week of the year, it’s easy enough to go to the gym or make coffee instead of buying it. However, when work or school picks up, and your calm morning routine turns into a stressful 10-minute rush, your resolutions fly out the window. Whether or not you make or buy coffee makes no difference to you, and the gym is the last thing on your mind. Here are some tips on keeping your new resolutions in the midst of your busiest days.

• First off, don’t make your resolutions far-fetched. For example, don’t promise yourself you’ll wake up and do an hour of yoga each morning when you know you’ll get stuck in traffic.

Eat those lovely, colorful veggies: quality in, quality out!

Eat those lovely, colorful veggies: quality in, quality out!

• Secondly, track your progress. My favorite way to do this is by using a bullet journal, but you can use a regular journal, or even the notes app on your phone, to write down your goals and how often you do them. For example, if your goal is to go to the gym three times a week, check off every day you do go, to help motivate yourself.

• Next, plan your resolutions. Make sure you know what you want, in detail. Example: If your resolution is to eat healthier, that might be too vague for you to follow. Write down how many calories you want to eat a day, or certain foods to cut out and foods to eat. Make it simple, like having at least two big vegetable servings a day. You can also track this by using apps that help you keep count of your calories, or how much money you save.

• Make your goals achievable. If you have a big goal, try to break it down so it is easier to achieve. Example: If you want to save X amount of money a month, write down how much you’ll save a week. By the end of the month, you’ll find that saving smaller amounts a week is easier than trying to scrounge up a large amount at the end of the month. Some banks or even employers can make automatic deposits to a savings accounts for you.

All of these tips are sure to help keep your resolutions going all the way till December of 2019. Best of luck!

—Maria Furtado


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