Jenelle Fraser
Dear AFETT
It still feels like the holidays. I was ready to hit the ground running when the new year turned over but I am just not feeling it.
I have not even set my New Year resolutions and I am feeling very unsettled. What advice do you have to help me get settled into my routine?
Dear reader
The unsettling feeling that you have been experiencing is relatable.
There is an irresistible desire to jump on the "new year, new me" train from the first day of January and kick things off with a bang, right? Wrong!
The expectation that you will suddenly begin exercising five days per week, eat greens, read daily, meditate, meal prep, start Korean skincare, journal and practise stoicism from New Year’s Day, more often than not, doesn't get past the month of January.
I have made a personal commitment to start this new year with ease. Here are some of the strategies that I have implemented that may be helpful to get settled into the new year.
Build habits, rather than trying to jump-start them
The adage "the best time is now" is a saying that has not lost its significance. But, it is imperative that this is not taken out of context.
One of the things that I have learned over the years is that before a habit is formed, it must first become a routine.
For instance, if you want to get into the habit of journalling, you must routinely and consistently journal. Over time, it will become instinctive.
Admittedly, it took me three years to begin journalling consistently.
[caption id="attachment_1133040" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Jenelle Fraser, AFETT's director of research and public advocacy -[/caption]
Before it became a habit, the pretty covers of my brand-new journals beautifully adorned a bookshelf in my home year after year and over time I purposefully built the habit of journalling my thoughts, plans and aspirations.
In like manner, you ought to be purposeful and intentional about building the new habits that you want to incorporate into your lifestyle.
It is not going to be effortless and the magical new year wand will not jump-start all the things that you desire to see differently.
Author and speaker James Clear in his book, Atomic Habits, focuses on cultivating healthy habits, decision-making and continuous improvement.
Clear’s writing is a manual of self-improvement strategies that teaches you how tiny changes can be made to build good habits and break bad ones.
This year, instead of creating a long-winded list of new things to begin as of midnight on December 31, be intentional, be purposeful and give yourself time to build the new habits that you want to implement from this year onwards. If you try to jump-start them, you may stumble upon disappointment.
Replace New Year resolutions with clearly defined visions
One of the greatest gifts that you can give to yourself at the start of the year is the gift of clarity.
Think about your greatest accomplishment(s) yet, did it stem from a New Year resolution or was it the product of a well-executed plan or a
