As we welcome a New Year join Pam Weeden once more to tackle that thorny issue of New Year's Resolutions.
Dry January,
Veganuary,
that resolute commitment to go to the gym three times a week...
A promise to oneself to re-transform the exercise bike from being an extension of the wardrobe to once again functioning as its primary purpose; the slightly quizzical expression on the dog’s face when he gets taken out on yet another long walk when he is still dozing off the last one you had before breakfast… and so they go on.
Never is there a time in the year – with the exception of Lent, perhaps – when we make so many hard and fast promises to ourselves. And we mean them. January the first, in all of its white blank page glory and newness, is a day of fierce intentions and determination. More diet cookbooks, brand new trainers and alcohol-free beers have their inauguration day on January 1st than any other day of the year – and more dogs have sore feet!
The truth of the matter is, research tells us that in reality, most of us will fail; in fact, less than 8% of people keep to their new year resolution. As such, rather than adding to our wellbeing, the promise we set becomes something we got wrong and the emotions can shift quickly to a sense of failure and ‘not being good enough’. In a world that taxes our wellbeing so relentlessly already, is this something else that we really need?
The problem with new year’s resolutions is that they ask us to be that 10% more. Something to consider is what 5% more looks like; or 1% more. Or even ½% more. Rather than going all out Dry January, what does only in the week look like? What does beginning to explore some vegetarian options on a regular basis instead of some meat-based favourites look like rather than going all out vegan? What does a mile a day look like and you can choose how do it – give yourself permission to amble with a good book on Audible if that is what you need. Sometimes, tiny incremental changes quickly lead to radical transformation because they are manageable, achievable and slip into our day to day without us noticing after a while. But all the while, they are chipping away at the change we want to see.
If you have a commitment to a resolution or you have signed up to Dry January, Veganuary or any other health based initiative, then this is not meant to put you off and I would say be the people that prove me wrong! But for the rest of you reading this and thinking ‘this is me’ and ‘I already hate my new trainers’, have a think about what your in between can look like and place yourself better to succeed.
Pam Weeden is a qualified professional Executive Coach and Mentor who is passionate about leadership development and believe in facilitating the growth of the person and the professional. Throughout the pandemic Pam has offered pastoral support to the Trust's senior leadership team.
You can follow Pam on Twitter: @PamWeeden
