Last year, I wrote a post about setting new year’s resolutions (you can find that here). I ended that post stating my resolution for 2023 was “To celebrate the little wins”. So, as we reach the point where you’re considering dropping your 2024 resolutions; let me give you some lessons I learnt after actually trying to keep my 2023 resolutions. Then I’ll let you know my adulting resolutions for 2024.
2023
My adulting resolutions
Up until 2023, I didn’t really take the resolution trend seriously. But last year I sat down (around mid-Jan 2023) and really thought about what I wanted to achieve that year. That goal was to have ‘That Girl’ energy*.
To achieve that I decided to focus on my health, fitness and my character development. How do these relate to the resolution I made? There are plenty of opportunities within each of them, for me to achieve my resolution and maintain it.
Health
Meal prep was taken more seriously that year, with a focus on keeping my fruit and veg consumption moderate. The little wins were celebrated when each meal had multiple veggies on the plate, or acknowledging each day I had fruit.
Fitness
For the beginning of the year, I wasn’t going to the gym often, so I focused on flexibility and stretching. Each night I did those stretches was a win. Then from mid-year I established a manageable gym routine of 3 days a week, so each time I made a gain, or did a new best would be a moment worth celebrating.
Character Development
There needed to be consistency between how I perceive myself and how everyone I interacted with, perceived me. Each time I felt comfortable to be myself in a conversation with non-platonic individuals, it was a definite win. People need to know I am nice, but I have a low tolerance for nonsense, which makes me very direct in conversation.
*What is ‘That Girl’ energy?
In my perspective, it’s where I feel happy and confident in my life, knowing I am investing energy into the parts of my life that I value. And because my life values are rooted in my core, I give off a sense of calm and grounding when adult life shakes me around. Because adulting is rough, and as long as I am happy with what I am spending my time on, then life can do what it needs to do. It also looks like I have my life together, but I don’t, and that is perfectly normal and part of the beauty of the energy.
How did I stick to my adulting resolutions throughout the year?
I picked obvious things that I wanted to improve on as my areas of focus. This choice was made based on how I thought about myself. Which meant my opinion on my progress was way more influential, than anybody else’s opinion.
Each of the focus areas, if I were to improve throughout the year, I would be healthier, fitter and a more understood character. To me, those things were incredibly attractive to achieve, as they are some of the things that I value.
It was an easy resolution to keep to if you think about it. As an adult human (who is responsible for herself) I have to eat, stay fit and well and I want to be liked (to an extent). My areas of focus were not large deviations from my basic lifestyle. This made it easier to incorporate improvements that I would then celebrate.
It was a really satisfying resolution, because I enjoy getting praise and compliments. And so each time I celebrated a win, I gave myself vocal praise and validation. This for me, was a reward that encouraged continuing my behaviours.
4 key things:
- I made it obvious
- I made it attractive
- I made it easy
- I made it satisfying
The four things you need to create habits/routines that stick from James Clear’s book: Atomic Habits. Another point from his book, is making 1% progress each day throughout the year, compounds to over 300% growth in the year. So, I improved fitness, my food consumption/health and how my true character presents herself naturally. All whilst improving the conversation I have with myself, and my body, resulting in my higher self-confidence and stability during life turbulence (‘That Girl’ energy).
Mini conclusion
James Clear knows what he is talking about. 2023 was a win (no sponsorships/affiliate links). But don’t interpret it as “My life was perfect” because it wasn’t. However, I feel I was better, with trying to improve those specific aspects of my life. And that’s all you should aim for when it comes to resolutions.
2024
My adulting resolutions
Building on from 2023, I am going to keep up with the routines and habits that I have formed and modify it where necessary. Life is always changing, so it’s reflective of my stability to embrace the change, even in my routines. So, I have started boxing, to add a bit more cardio to my fitness goals. With regards to my character development, I am now working on building relationships with my natural self at the front of my first impression. Platonic is my main priority, but we shall see what the future holds.
TL;DR Too long; Didn’t Read
- I read atomic habits by James Clear last year, and used my learnings from that to create and stick to my adulting resolutions.
- I have changed quite a bit because of my resolutions, thanks to the compound effect.
- I made my adulting resolutions: Obvious, Attractive, Easy and Satisfying to achieve which kept me driven throughout the year
- My 2024 adulting resolutions: building on 2023 resolutions with an increased level of difficulty.
