Setting and sticking with realistic, practically achievable resolutions is a healthy, energising and motivating way to start the new year..

Tuesday 18th January, 2022

January is a universally recognised time for looking back over the year that was, taking stock of the goals that were set, the challenges that were faced, the achievements made, the good times and the bad. mean business as usual.

It’s a time for taking stock of where we are, and where we’d like to be. Sort of like a natural reset button, that rolls around once per year.

The idea of new year’s resolutions can be a polarising one. The concept is hard to argue against, however some of us have had less than stellar experiences in the past when it comes to sticking with resolutions long term…

In order to remain consistent with our new year’s resolutions, we need to consider them carefully before committing. Achievable resolutions focus on self improvement and simply require us to remain committed to the goal over time, rather than requiring luck or intervention by anyone else.

For example, resolving to become a better writer this year, or to learn to speak another language, are both achievable resolutions. Much more so than resolving to find a romantic partner or to win the lottery - both of which require plenty of luck and/ or the intervention of others.

Depending on your mindset, embracing new technologies may come naturally, or it may be something you have to work on.

In our ever more interconnected digital world, new tools, programs and technologies seem to appear left and right. Some of these, or course, never catch on. However you never know when the next big development in your field will come along, and early adopters of pivotal programs and technologies often enjoy significant advantages over time.

Resolving to further embrace new technologies in 2022 is a smart move that will allow you to learn about new tools and how to utilise them in your field and to make more informed judgements about where to invest effort and resources..

Learning new skills to add to your resume is never a bad idea. Luckily, discovering and learning new skillsets has never been easier than it is today.

Not only can new skills be researched and discussed easily online, there are many online resources that can be utilised for self education.

Or course Wikipedia and a basic Google search can be used to look for reading material, blogs and other resources. YouTube videos are a popular and prolific option for those looking to learn about a vast number of topics.

Those looking to delve deeper into specific subjects can look to high quality online courses available through Coursera and other outlets in order to improve their education in a given field.

While our increasingly interconnected world presents a huge amount of new opportunities due to improvements in technology and communications, being online all of the time can have its downsides too

A commonly reported issue that effects many professionals and students alike is disrupted sleep due to late night use of electronics. The bright light emitting from our laptops, TVs, phones and other devices can interrupt our circadian rhythms, which tend to associate bright light with periods of wakefulness.

A popular resolution is to reduce or cut out use of electronics for a period of time for several hours each day immediately prior to going to sleep at night. Many individuals have reported significantly improved sleep duration and quality after implementing this concept. .

Those who struggle to fully cut out the use of all screens in the evenings can try wearing blue light glasses during the hours prior to sleep.

Similarly, users can try downloading a desktop app which reduces screen blue light output as the day progresses.

Setting achievable new year’s resolutions is a great way to start the year with the right energy, and doing the work to stick to them feels great.

Resolutions don’t have to be grandiose, in fact, the more realistic and practically achievable, the better.

All the best with setting and sticking to your resolutions for 2022, and reaping the benefits as the integrated changes allow for benefits in all areas of life