Manageable Micro-Resolutions for 2020

Setting lofty goals for the new year may work for some people, but not everyone. One source claims 80 percent of Americans abandon their resolutions before March. If that’s true, our approach to the tradition could be responsible. 

Psychologists and researchers agree on the most common New Year’s resolution mistake: setting unreasonable goals. We set these goals because we feel pressured to reinvent ourselves and drastically change our habits in a single day. We aim at elusive targets and feel defeated when we miss. 

Micro-resolutions are the answer to this annual dilemma. These bite-sized intentions are small and attainable. Think of them as building blocks that will support steady personal growth in the new decade. Below are several no-pressure micro-resolutions you can set for 2020 to usher in big changes.

Learn a New Skill

Deciding to learn something new comes with professional and personal benefits. Learning fuels creativity, builds self-confidence, and bolsters self-efficacy.

It’s smart to pick up a skill with the potential to advance your career. For example, take an online course in an emerging software program or a foreign language. 

Alternatively, throw yourself into something completely unrelated to your professional life. Hobbies that aren’t attached to work are more relaxing. Make a list of activities you’re interested in, such as baking or playing an instrument, and give one of them a shot.

Rediscover Your City 

This micro-resolution is for those experiencing restlessness and wanderlust. A trip abroad may have to take a back seat this year, but you can still play tourist in your own town. 

Many people overlook top sights and must-see stops in their own cities. Make it your mission to notice new things that make your home special. Start by visiting a few local attractions you’ve never been to. Take an unfamiliar route to a familiar place. Do everything you would do if you were traveling, without exhausting your post-holiday PTO.

Find More Movement

It’s common to make an ambitious fitness resolution and forget that your body and mind need time to prepare. Diving headfirst into a new lifestyle causes burnout, one of the biggest roadblocks to our annual health commitments. 

Stay on track by starting small. Commit to finding more movement in your life. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or go to one yoga class a week. Focus on steadily building the habits you need to reach your long-term goals. From there, everything else will seem more accessible.

Foster Healthy Relationships 

Your relationships are tied to your wellbeing. Spending time with friends and loved ones can boost your mood, improve your self-worth, increase your sense of belonging, and encourage you to avoid bad habits. However, it takes effort to develop and maintain these connections. 

When it comes to existing friendships, focus on nurturing them. Make time for the people you care about. Ask them questions and listen to what they have to say. Be open with them and share details about your life. Good friends can be hard to come by, so give these relationships the energy they deserve.

As far as new friendships go, many of us find it hard to make these connections. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Joining a group or club, attending community events, and reaching out toan acquaintance are all great places to start. 

Remember, drastic changes are harder to sustain than small, incremental ones. Try making micro-resolutions this year to set yourself up for success. 

What micro-resolutions are you going to make in 2020? Let us know on Instagram by tagging #cozyclub!