How To Successfully Set New Year's Resolutions If You Have Anxiety
This year is going to be different. The days of pushing things off or canceling plans last minute are over. But are they? Anxiety is a tricky beast. Severe forms can lead to people operating in almost a constant state of fight or flight, which is exhausting.
It is not that people with anxiety do not want to change or improve, but they either find it incredibly difficult to do so or overshoot with ambition. The hope for a new year and a new self often brings an incredible amount of excitement and purpose. Unfortunately, too many anxious people expect to completely alter their perspective and personality within the new year's first couple of months.
As you prepare to make your New Year's resolutions, consider tangible, measurable goals. Promising to get rid of your anxiety may be not only too vague but also unrealistic. The purpose of this guide is to help you, as an individual with anxiety, prepare an executable plan for the New Year, one that will help you create a path for continuous improvement year over year, for a lifetime!
Make Sure You Are Ready To Make a Change
Before you can set an actionable resolution, you need to prepare for the change you desire. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, you do not want to start moving toward that goal when you still have loads of junk food in the house or haven't put together a meal plan.
In the days and weeks leading up to New Year's, make preparations for the goals ahead. Take time out of your busy week to plan for the change you want. Many anxious people find it beneficial to set aside time to worry, so if you're going to try creating a worrying time, review your schedule and see where you fit 15 to 20 minutes into your routine.
A significant aspect of resolution success is preparation. As an anxious individual, it is critical to give yourself time to plan, even if making those plans become part of the resolution.
Set Realistic Goals
Free of anxiety is not a realistic goal. How do you measure your success, and how do you ensure that any progress is lasting? Take some of the pressure off by taking small steps towards achieving a larger goal. Patience is key.
Are you someone who is striving to participate in more group events but struggle with social anxiety? Make a plan to attend a specific number of social gatherings throughout the year to ease your way back into the social scene. That way, you can mentally prepare for the moments you plan to go out and can get excited for the night ahead. It is also important to keep in mind that skipping social opportunities is a completely normal and healthy thing to do. Don’t beat yourself up for not feeling up to a big night out. There will always be more opportunities for you to spread your wings.
Improve focus and clarity.Hoping to shed some weight quickly following your holiday indulgences but are stressing on where to start? Well, weight loss doesn’t happen overnight, and that is perfectly okay! Start to improve your diet by cutting out fast food or overly processed items. When you are feeling up to it, start incorporating a workout routine that makes you feel good afterward. Did you know that nutrition and exercise can improve the effects of anxiety? That’s a plus! Ultimately, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to achieve your end goal as quickly as possible. The objective is to make small achievable goals that eventually result in the significant change you want to make.
Shift Your Outlook From Negative To Positive
If you want to achieve your resolution goal, you need to alter your focus from the negative to the positive. Learning how to find the good in situations can greatly improve your mood and motivation while helping to manifest the goals in your life into becoming a reality.
For example, if your goal is taking longer to achieve than expected, enjoy the climb to the top! Take the time to write down what you are learning along the way and the self growth that you are experiencing.
Didn’t get the job you were interviewing for? Don’t spend too much of your time sulking about it. Of course, it is okay to feel sad about outcomes that didn’t go your way. However, rather than seeing these moments as “missed opportunities,” look at them as another learning experience that is preparing you for an even better opportunity up ahead.
All in all, practice telling yourself that when one door closes, multiple more will open. Don’t shut yourself off to new experiences or moments to grow. With the right mindset, there is always a bright light at the end of the tunnel.
Embrace the Struggle
Positive change doesn’t always happen overnight so it is best, both mentally and physically, if you stop putting pressure on yourself and take a moment to embrace the struggle. There will be setbacks and days when your resolution goal seems impossible, but do not close yourself off to the opportunity. It is important to recognize that this is part of the journey to ultimate success, and not to expect a steady incline without a few setbacks.
Anxiety can make it hard to focus and see the possibility of change, but all people can better themselves. You can make 2021 the year when you commit to taking a holistic approach to controlling your anxiety and irritability. Brillia and its 5 pillars are a great program to consider. It combines taking a non-prescription gentle product with healthier lifestyle choices that can all contribute to reducing these symptoms. Let this New Year be the time of positive change.
Get a whole bunch of support right in your inbox.
