Call them naff and unrealistic but I love a New Year’s resolution. Nothing makes me happier than spending winter nights planning the areas of my life I’m going to overhaul and, come the beginning of January, I am ready to go with a long list of goals to be achieved over the following 365 days. Inevitably, I hit some and miss others by miles so, last year, I tried something a little different: instead of writing down all the things I wanted to do, I came up with a couple of keywords that described how I wanted to feel. And it changed my year.
You see the problem with goals is that when we make them on 1 January, it’s difficult to know how we’re going to feel about them one month, six months or 12 months later. Also, we simply don’t know what might come along to push the original goal down the list. When we set our year according to how we want to feel, we allow some flexibility.
This story is from the February 2020 edition of Psychologies.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2020 edition of Psychologies.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
"Imposter syndrome is super healthy"
Television and radio presenter Claudia Winkleman talks to Psychologies about taking wellness seriously in her 50s, the power of a good nap, and why she’ll never wear a sports bra
Anna Williamson - A date with destiny
Top of the month to you, dear readers! As we ease into the autumn months, many of us looking for love find ourselves dusting off the lazy summer vibes and embracing the opportunity that the colder months can bring. The latter part of the year is always fuelled with a fizz of anticipation, with the changing seasons, cosy evenings drawing in, and impending festivities. It can be the perfect time to ignite the passion for getting out and about and meeting people, in the hope of having fun and finding love.
How to be happier
Emma Hepburn, aka The Psychology Mum, shares how to bring more bliss into your life
SING FOR YOUR LIFE! SOMEWHERE IN MY MEMORY...
In this month's column, musician James Sills explores the songs we sing at Christmas, and how they help us to connect with our past and present
'Twas the night before Christmas...
Whether or not you choose to buy into the Santa myth, we can all believe in the positive messaging the man in red has come to represent, discovers Yasmina Floyer
Winter Walks
Savour this season of solitude and stillness, and take a mindful moment, says Yasmina Floyer
Bit of a stretch EXCUSES, EXCUSES
Hollywood child actress Rachel Hurd-Wood swapped the red carpet for a yoga mat in her new life as a Pilates teacher and mum of two
Anna Williamson Pass the mistletoe!
The smell of cinnamon, tinsel, and panic is in the air! Every year, Christmas seems to descend upon us with as much urgency and pressure as poor ol' Santa himself must feel every 24 December. And whether you are in a relationship, or you are wishing you were, Christmas is undoubtedly a particularly testing time for our love lives.
Tackling Christmas CONFLICT
In the season of peace and goodwill to all, bring back the balance and learn to look after yourself as well as others
A new kind of Christmas
If 'Embracing Christmas 2.0' has struck a chord with you, discover how author Veronica Henry created her own new-look Christmas...