Why you should aim LOW for your New Year's resolution for the sake of your sanity - and the key mistakes to avoid
Share:
Many of us are guilty of setting unrealistic New Year's resolutions and giving up on them just a few short months into the year. While goals are an important part of setting your intentions for the year ahead, life coach and counsellor Linda Magson is convinced we're going about them all wrong.
![[While many of us focus our resolutions on weight and fitness, Ms Magson encouraged goal setters to consider some small, specific changes they could make - like decluttering]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/04/07/93410209-14184153-While_many_of_us_focus_our_resolutions_on_weight_and_fitness_Ms_-a-3_1735974522537.jpg)
'We get this sense of failure if we set these goals that are too ambitious, too high, and convince ourselves other people will think we're a failure,' Ms Magson told Daily Mail Australia. 'Then we end up thinking, "I just shouldn't have tried" and go back to our baseline.
![[One thing Ms Magson strongly urged people to try is creating a 'joy list' and adding a joyful activity to their routine]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/04/07/93410213-14184153-One_thing_Ms_Magson_strongly_urged_people_to_try_is_creating_a_j-a-2_1735974522142.jpg)
'More often than not, it's not the person who's failed their resolution. It's their plan to get there, or the goal itself.'. It's also important to think about the reason behind your goal, Ms Magson said. The most popular New Year's resolution has long been to lose weight, but will losing X number of kilos really change your life? Ms Magson thinks not.
![[Ms Magson suggested decluttering as an important goal, saying: 'Decluttering generally doesn't make it onto a New Year's list but the idea of life being too complex and too stressful is something everyone feels']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/04/07/93410211-14184153-Ms_Magson_suggested_decluttering_as_an_important_goal_saying_Dec-a-4_1735974522619.jpg)
'Often there can be some sort of pressure that makes you think, "Wouldn't it be nice to be healthier" or "I want to fit into those clothes that fit a decade ago",' she said. 'They pop to mind because health-related goals are the most popular, but they're not specific enough.
'Why is it so important to you to lose weight, what's the value? How will it impact your life, health and relationships?. 'Usually it boils down to wanting to feel more confident. That's the important thing.'. So rather than focusing your New Year's resolution on insecurities or 'negative' aspects of your life, Ms Magson urged people to pay more attention on adding positive things to their routine.
