How to Manage Anxiety Around New Year’s Resolutions?
The start of the new year brings a sense of excitement and possibilities. It can also be overwhelming. The pressure to set and achieve bigger, better goals can feel like a weight on our shoulders, making it hard to enjoy the things we’ve already accomplished. Finding a good balance is crucial to encourage growth and improve our resilience when things don’t go as planned.
The Anxiety of New Year’s Resolutions
The pressure to set ambitious goals, share them with others and avoid failure can be difficult to navigate. Comparing our progress to others can lead to feelings of inadequacy, insecurity and self-doubt. These feelings can be intense and take the joy away from celebrating our wins.
How can we Manage Anxiety Around New Year's Resolutions
Here are some strategies to help manage anxiety around New Year's resolutions:
Be kind to yourself: Set goals that are achievable and realistic. Focus on the process it takes to achieve what you want and break that down into smaller, manageable steps.
Keep goals private: Consider keeping your goals private if it helps to relieve anxiety and boost self-esteem. If you do wish to share your goals, share them with a trusted friend or family member, or write them down in a journal.
Progress over perfection: Remember that it's okay to make mistakes and that progress is more important than perfection. Celebrate small wins along the way. No matter how big or small, every step counts.
Practice self-compassion: Be gentle with yourself if you encounter setbacks or don't meet your goals. Remember that setbacks are normal, and it's not a reflection of your worth.
Seek support: Consider seeking support from a therapist or support group to help you manage social anxiety and achieve your goals. Having someone to talk to can make a huge difference.
Mindfulness and self-reflection: engaging in mindfulness activities can help you stay focused on the present and explore your emotions without judgement. By understanding your stress triggers, it is possible to create realistic strategies to cope with them.
Take your time: If it’s hard to come up with new goals, that is okay. It is normal to feel anxious about making changes and coming up with new goals to tackle. Start small and work your way from there. You don’t have to change everything overnight!
Reframing Resolutions
Instead of viewing New Year’s resolutions as a source of anxiety, try seeing them as opportunities for:
Growth: Focus on learning new skills, building positive habits and improving your overall wellbeing.
Self-care and wellness: Prioritize activities that make you feel good about yourself. Focus on setting goals that promote self-care and well-being, such as exercise, meditation, or spending time in nature.
Celebrate! Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements no matter how small they seem. Use them as opportunities to build confidence and self-esteem.
A fun way to Reframe Your goals:
Try making a vision board to help you transition into the new year, filling it with things that bring you joy, goals you want to achieve, and areas you'd like to improve. Make it personal and realistic, breaking down large goals into smaller, manageable steps and finding pictures or words that inspire you. By visualizing your goals and tracking progress, you'll stay motivated and focused, reducing the likelihood of feeling discouraged by setbacks and making it easier to celebrate small wins along the way.
Conclusion
Managing social anxiety around New Year's resolutions requires a thoughtful and compassionate approach. By setting realistic goals, keeping them private, focusing on progress, and practicing self-compassion, you can reduce anxiety and achieve your objectives. Remember to reframe your goals as opportunities for growth, self-care, and confidence-building.
References:
https://anxiousrelief.com/new-year-resolutions-anxiety/
https://www.bozemancounseling.org/blog/2024/1/11/the-psychology-behind-new-years-resolutions-stress#:~:text=You%20can%20set%20smaller%20goals,resolution%20stress%20and%20feel%20better.
