New Year’s Resolutions are made and broken every year. Rather than setting yourself up with a resolution and potential frustration if you break it, treat yourself to a new way to start off the year. Instead of a New Year’s Resolution, try out one of these options:

1. Make a bucket list.  Fill it with a list of what you want to try or do and work on crossing it off a little at a time.

2. Establish a new goal each month.  Rather than planning for an entire year, create a goal for one month. Then when the next month rolls around, pick a different goal. You may find it’s easier to stay on track 30 days at a time.

3. Pick a monthly theme.  Establish a theme for each month and then do as many things as you can that fit that theme for the month. For example, try a “veggie-a-day” theme and try a new vegetable each day.

4. Make a commitment to someone else.  If making a resolution is a promise to yourself, try making a commitment to someone else like a friend or charity. Maybe it’s becoming a Big Sister or Big Brother. Putting someone else first and committing to them makes it a little easier to hold yourself accountable.

5. Choose a word of the year.  Pick a word that holds meaning and then focus on living up to your word for the remainder of the year. Examples can include: peace, others, freedom, adventure. Select the word that matters most to you.

By following one of these alternatives, you may find it a little easier to be kind to yourself as we start the new year.

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