Resolutions 2016 anyone?

First published January 22nd 2016

 It just happens that I have not chosen my resolutions yet for 2016. On the first day of the year, I was not ready. And between you and I, I didn’t feel like it. 

If you don’t feel like it but do it anyway, you are just making sure that you are going to fail, don’t you think?

And this 1st of January cut-off date, isn’t it only a symbol? 
Because, no matter when you make a resolution, the important thing is that it does really matter to you. Because when it does, you will keep it.

Every year, without fail, since I was a little girl, I have made at least one resolution on the 1st of January: go to the gym regularly, stop swearing, stop eating sweets, stop biting my nails, stop procrastinate... 
And usually, after a few weeks (or days!), I don’t even remember what those resolutions were. 

I can honestly only remember 2 successes (which were/are not even 100%):
-  in 2011, I decided to try a new recipe every week. The list of recipes I master is now a bit longer and I am proud of it. It lasted 3 months.
-  in 2012, I decided to reply to emails inside 48 hours. I don’t always manage to do it (for example, if I am away from home or if the message requires thoughts and attention but I am in a hurry, or if I forget!) but the average is good. 

That’s about it.

I am more successful with resolutions that I have to take because/for a precise situation/reason when it is really needed/important. For example, I stopped drinking coca-cola at home overnight when a loved one’s health problems reminded me that I too should take a little bit more care of myself. The shock of the event gave me the emotional strength to go through the first few days. Now I occasionally drink a coke when I go out, but every time I am surprised at how sweet it is...

What type of resolutions do you make? Do you keep them? 
If you do, when do you make them: on New Year’s day or during the year? What is your motivation?

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Melanie
Life coach
with Mel's help