As the New Year starts, the need to reinvent ourselves comes upon us. The new year symbolizes new beginnings and a fresh start. That person you wanted to be so badly will happen this year, or so one thinks. This pressure to reinvent yourself and become this brand new person falls upon so many when one sees the ball drop. This symbol of the new year inspires hope with many high expectations. However, how can one find a way to make meaningful change and be able to stick to it?
The psychology behind goal setting can be different for many. A main factor for setting goals is the fresh start effect. This effect motivates individuals to start goals after an event such as New Year’s. These moments help to inspire new positive changes. Although setting goals helps trigger the release of dopamine, sometimes negative thought patterns challenge the new goals we create for ourselves. Always expecting failure or a negative situation to occur further makes achieving goals difficult.
So the question comes, what are some ways to start integrating goals into our lives? Psychologists recommend creating a list of small and big goals. Writing these down allows your brain to acknowledge possible achievements. Now start the ones you find most important or achievable. Focusing on these goals first is the best plan of action. One can not just make a change quickly. This confuses our brains and causes the new plan to be more challenging. Furthermore, it is important to find ways to integrate these goals into your life. For example, if your goal is to start learning a new language, think of how much time you want to spend on it a day. At the beginning, it is better to start small, so at least 10 minutes a day. Instead of scrolling on your phone before bed, take that time and practice grammar or writing.
Overall, the “new year, new me” mantra creates a feeling of needing to be perfect when the clock strikes midnight. However, for some, this is not achievable, and that is okay. Change happens over time, and with small changes, it is achievable.