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Making a resolution for the first day of new year, in my full of mind, is always what people do even should just occur on someone's mind, but it does. So, are you on it? Or have you been on it?

So, why do people making resolutions at the turn of the year? Is that needed? It's a well-known tradition to set it out. But since 2020 was rough or let's say hardly like any other, do resolutions even deserve a place on your to-do list? Many people set resolutions in the name of their better self of good health or seeking out every curious they can't wait to try it out. After a year, though, while things got turned upside down and uncertainty is the running theme, is it time to finally consider something more useful?

According to Portal Jember, Hani Yuliandrasari, a psychologist thinks that many people assume new year is a "Portal" to the new hopes and era. Hence, most of them have made resolutions to change about themselves and their lives.

"New year is like an open door to face the newest era. Many wells said, it's time for me to change, nothings on the past, and I have to work on for this year.", said Hani.

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This New Year's problem resolutions

But, but, but ,but, but... let's have a look from the past, how was 2020's resolutions or its year situation going? How bad were the conditions both mentally and physically or even emotionally?

I ought to remind you, pandemic is far from over.

The result is, it affects our current settlement, then considering those effects before affecting this year's resolutions any further.

Why?

Because according to Dr. Sophie Lazarus, a psychologist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, after a difficult year, the last thing we require to do is add more pressure on ourselves, instead set a realistic goal during a global pandemic. 

"It's probably more useful to seek at what's going on in our lives -- and especially given everything that has been asked of us and all of the adaptation we've been doing in 2020 -- if it's a really good time to make a change," Dr. Lazarus.

If you decide to make some type of change is a good idea, then evaluating how big the change is and if that kind of change is actually reasonable and realistic right now. Dr. Lazarus well said that this such an especially difficult year that we don't really want to set ourselves up for that kind of uneasiness and disappointment which makes it even harder to cope.

We occasionally think it's going to help us get more done or be more productive or make this change we really want to make. Dr. Lazarus thinks that it very tends to just increase our stress and make things worse.

That doesn't mean you can't stick with your such ambitions, of course, you can by being more gentle to yourself or give yourself this same grace you might give to someone that you love or care about.

How do I cope with it? What should I do?

All by that making some of the "fresh start" mentality in this New Year, Dr. Lazarus suggests by starting small ones. She encourages people to think in small, incremental terms instead of big changes.

That's it. Starting with the easy way, this ain't bring you a burden or even worse unconsciously forcing yourself, on the contrary you will even be happier and feel the excitement within the journey. 

For example, you could think about how much time you have spent with your phone only for social media with do nothing, how much junk food you eat daily and blablabla. Try limiting it to once a day or setting alarms up when you on your phone, or you can still enjoying your favorite meal once a week, the point is, don't too strict about yourself but discipline.

Last, consider why this small adjustment will make your life better. Do you know this change could help you feel better or happier on a daily basis? or are you doing it because you think you "should" do it?

Meanwhile, instead of trying to cope with bad habits or fixing what's wrong in your life, you can focus on mindfulness and awareness, and releasing some of the self-criticism. You are beautiful, you are amazing, you are outstanding just the way you are.

Here, I'm about sharing my kind of more and less to-do list. 

Hope you have a good time.

~Farah