Rethinking Your New Year’s Resolutions with Julie Haber
By: The Fiske Group
Tags: Intentional Living, Mindfulness, New Years Resolutions, 2021, Lake Austin Spa Resort

When the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, we will enter a (highly anticipated) new year. But after the challenges of 2020, do we really need to play the New Year’s Resolution game? You know the one… we make broad statements and goals to stop to habits we’d like to change, and then find ourselves dropping right back into old routines in just a few months.

After a year where everything has changed, we thought it best to rethink our strategy for 2021. What are some resolutions worth implementing, that have a real, tangible effect on our life? And what are some ways we can ensure success?

We consulted Lake Austin Spa Resort’s Inspiration and Wellness Specialist, Julie Haber, who gave us some tools for putting our resolutions into place as well as a list of her alternative resolution ideas on new ways to level up in 2021.

Julie Haber’s 2021 Resolution Ideas:

Perform one act of random kindness daily (even if it is just smiling at someone) Be grateful for what ‘didn’t’ happen each day — in other words, things could be worse Buy healthy deserts instead of overly processed sweet ones Make a list of people who inspire you and why Aim to watch the sunrise or sunset each night Buy yourself a special gift rather than overspend on lots of things you do not need Drive down more roads you have never taken, take a different route to get where you are going Have a Zoom tea party Listen to inspiring podcasts or talks while you cook or do the dishes Reach out to a friend that you have lost touch with Talk to your plants Install an App on your phone that limits your screen time rather than rely on your own willpower Whenever you have the urge to call your ex, make a deal with a close friend that you will call them instead Create a simple bedtime ritual to help you sleep Humble yourself and find a fitness trainer well suited to your needs Learn a new recipe twice per month Learn one simple breathing technique and practice it daily for 3 minutes Give yourself permission to imagine what you truly want happening once a week, and have faith it will happen Appreciate one thing about yourself daily Spend 5 minutes stretching each day on a soft carpet Commit to eating healthy food that tastes good too Keep a gratitude jar and drop one thing you are grateful for each week into the jar, at the end of 2021 review your year and all that made it special Take $25 of your earnings each week and place it in a retirement fund Stop telling yourself you are too complex for a relationship and start dating Declare war on your inner gremlin voice that convinces you of unworthiness Forgive yourself for not being perfect Give to your spouse or significant other by learning their primary love language Download a meditation App that you like Start to charge what you are worth Realize you do not have to do everything alone and commit to finding a life coach or therapist who can support you!

Julie Haber‘s Tips for Practicing Your Resolutions:

Most New Years Resolutions fail. We set our intentions earnestly and sincerely at the end of the year, yet with each passing month after January 1st, the likelihood that we will follow through on these resolutions gets significantly smaller.

The 2021 resolutions above can benefit people because they are tangible, doable and fun. It is important to get very specific when making new years resolutions. Sure, many of us want to lose weight, get in shape and save money, yet these resolutions are far too wide of a goal. The above works because it considers the larger goal, yet approaches it from a more narrow and specific angle.

As you sit down to make your new years resolutions list, see if you can get very specific and creative.

I recommend the following tips for putting it into practice:

1) Be honest with yourself- do YOU- not what you think your friends and family think you should do

2) Be practical and smart about what is actually achievable

3) Change the word resolutions to intentions — intentions are consciously made and are something you can remind yourself of daily

4) At the end of each day ask yourself if you reached your intention, if not forgive yourself and begin again the next day — Recommit each day!

5) Intend to give back and connect with others- let some of your resolutions (intentions) be more than just something that benefits you personally

6) Be creative and think outside the box

7) Find a coach or counselor! Support and accountability leads to success

Let us know in the comments what your New Year’s Resolution is going to be!