It’s that time of year again!
The New Year is here, which means it’s time to think about or RE-INVIGORATE your New Year’s resolutions.
For some people, making a resolution is a necessary part of starting the New Year off on the right foot.
It’s a chance to reflect on the past year and set goals for the year ahead.
But even if you’re not the resolution-making type, there are still some good reasons to make or update a New Year’s resolution list.
What is a New Year’s Resolutions List?
A New Year’s resolution list is a document that contains a list of goals and objectives that you want to achieve or accomplish during the next year.
This might include things like quitting a bad habit, getting more consistent exercise, or spending more purposeful time with family and friends.
New Year’s Resolution Lists do not have to be long and extensive.
In fact, some people find that having a short and manageable list is more effective than trying to tackle too many goals at once.
At Ledoux Lagoon, we believe the sweet spot is 5 goals!
But regardless of the length or type of resolution on your list, there are many reasons why you might want to make one.
Some of the top reasons include:
- increased motivation,
- heightened accountability,
- and a focus on the things that matter most in life.
What’s The Difference Between A New Year’s Resolution List and a Bucket List?
While there are similarities between a New Year’s resolution list and a bucket list, there are also some key differences.
A bucket list typically contains long-term goals or dreams that you want to accomplish at some point in your life, while a New Year’s resolution list might be more focused on your goals and actions for the upcoming, or current year.
Additionally, a bucket list may be more focused on personal accomplishments, while a New Year’s resolution might be more about improving yourself or your life in general.
Another difference is that Bucket Lists often include activities that you may only want to achieve once, such as seeing the Great Pyramids of Giza or jumping out of an airplane, whereas a New Year’s resolutions list may require more short-term, dedicated efforts (or that lead to long term goals).
See our beautiful, free, downloadable 2023 Bucket List package and get started making your dreams come true!
How Can I Get Started?
Consider using helpful lists such as Ledoux Lagoon’s downloadable, printable 2023 New Year’s Resolution Package offered for free in the Printables section.
This pretty package has everything you need to get motivated and stay motivated throughout the year.
And you can clearly see what you want to achieve and track your progress as you go.
Plus, it’s always satisfying to tick things off your list as you achieve them!
The Top Ten Reasons to Make a New Year’s Resolution List!
1. It’s a Positive, Uplifting Start to the New Year!
As the old saying goes, “New year, new me.” Making a New Year’s resolution list is a great way to start the year off with an uplifting vibe.
It’s a chance to reflect on the previous year and set your sights on what you want to accomplish in the coming one.
It’s a great time to sit with your lists, have a nice hot cup of coffee, and really contemplate your life and write down what positive changes you would like to see in 2023.
You might be surprised at how gratifying it can be.
2. To Set Goals and Track your Progress
One of the best ways to reflect on the past twelve months and set some goals for the year ahead is to make a New Year’s resolution list.
A more structured resolution plan helps to keep things organized and not only will you be more likely to achieve your goal, but you will also feel a sense of accomplishment when you finally reach it.
3. Tackle Any Fears of Failure
Some people shy away from making New Year’s resolutions because they worry about failing to stick to them.
But remember, even if you don’t achieve everything on your list, you will still have made progress toward your goals.
Just the act of setting goals and making plans can help put you on the path to success.
So don’t be afraid to dream big and make a resolution or two (or ten!) that really excites you.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Learn a new skill or hobby
- Get fit and healthy
- Spend more time with family and friends
- Save money
- Travel to new places
- Make a difference in your community
- Be more positive and grateful
Our 2023 New Year’s Resolution Package offered free in the Printables section also has over 30 New Year’s resolution list ideas.
Whatever you decide to put on your list, make sure it’s something that YOU want to achieve.
And then go out there and make it happen!
4. You Can Learn From Your Mistakes
New Year’s resolutions are a great way to learn from your mistakes and set yourself up for success in the coming year.
By taking the time to reflect on what didn’t work in the past, you can make adjustments and set yourself up for a better future.
It’s never a negative thing to look back and identify what did not work in our lives, but rather, recognizing our mistakes and faults is an important step in our personal growth journeys.
All that is required is the time to sit down and carefully reflect on your past year or years, and identify:
- everything that slows you down,
- everything that is inefficient,
- and everything that does not work, in order for you to move forward in a healthy, positive, content, manner.
These problem areas may include your job, your resume, your budgeting, your physical health, your mental health, or maybe it’s where you’re situated, it could be several things, and only you can pinpoint them.
When we can recognize through a process of elimination what actions, roles, or habits are not working for us we can naturally tweak and adjust our actions and become more streamlined and efficient in our future efforts.
5. It’s a Way to Celebrate Your Successes
For some people, New Year’s resolutions signify a stressful process.
They put pressure on themselves to achieve perfection, and then feel like failures when they inevitably fall short.
But there’s no need to approach New Year’s resolutions with any negative mindsets. Instead, think of them as a way to look back on your accomplishments and set yourself up for even more success in the future.
By setting realistic goals and making a plan for achieving them, you can turn your New Year’s resolutions into a positive force in your life.
6. A Resolution List Can Help You Stay Organized
It can be easy to let things slide during the year, but a resolution list can help you stay focused.
The Ledoux Lagoon New Years Resolution List package features a June 1st resolution assessment checklist to keep yourself on track, as well as a page for 12 monthly mini-goals for each month of the year.
These mini-goals can be stand-alone goals or smaller steps that help you to reach your larger goals.
A good idea would be to set bi-weekly or monthly reminders of your phone or other calendar preference, to check in with your resolutions list to keep track of your goals and to prevent your interest from waning, throughout the year.
7. Have Fun and Write Your Resolutions List with Others
One of the benefits of making a New Year’s resolutions list is bringing together friends and family. Get-togethers to make resolutions are a great way to catch up with loved ones and set the tone for quality time together in the coming year.
And simply going through the process of setting resolutions can be a fun, supportive, and encouraging process.
It can also demonstrate to children of all ages the importance of setting goals and is a thought-provoking activity for them to do.
Last, if anything, it’s a good excuse to make some delectables, have some hot drinks, cozy up, and enjoy each other’s company!
So don’t write off New Year’s resolutions as a boring, tedious task that has to be done alone, just get creative and give it a group GO!
Did You know?
According to history.com:
- Ancient Babylonians were the first known people to make New Year’s resolutions approximately 4,000 years ago!
- In 46 B.C. Julius Caesar made some changes to the calendar and the month of January became the beginning of the New Year.
- January is named after Janus, the 2-headed Roman God. Janus was said to look back into the past year and the future, so sacrifices were offered to the deity for a good upcoming year.
- Hundreds of years ago, early Christians used January 1st to contemplate mistakes of the past and then resolved to be better moving forward.
- Today, about 45% of the population claims to make resolutions, however, only 8% are said to achieve their New Year’s resolution goals.
Just hearing the 8% statistic is enough to make anyone want to increase that number!
And for all of 2023, one of those people can be you!
Conclusion
New Year’s resolutions are a fun way to start the new year. They give you something to look forward to and help you focus on your goals.
Plus, it’s always exciting to think about all the things you want to achieve in the coming year.
Even if you don’t stick to your resolutions, they can still be advantageous.
Who knows what you might accomplish?
Taking the time to sit down and think about your goals for the coming year can help you figure out what you need to do to make them happen.
And once you’ve got your resolutions written down, you can refer back to them throughout the year to help keep yourself on track.
Another reason to make a New Year’s resolution list is that it can be fun! It’s a chance to dream big and think about all the things you want to achieve in the coming year.
Whether your goal is serious or silly, putting it on your list can give you something to look forward to.
Happy New Year and
Thanks for Reading!