They may seem like nonsense, but New Year’s resolutions actually hold a lot of power.
Especially, for seniors.
New Year’s resolutions are important because they set your sights on the future. They keep you moving forward and focused on a better life- even if the past has been a difficult one.
As seniors get older, they often get lost in regrets and “what ifs.”
When that happens, they can easily find themselves stuck in a spiral that takes them deeper and deeper into the angst of past events.
And, that’s where New Year’s resolutions come in.
New Year’s resolutions give seniors hope. They can pull seniors out of the deepest of spirals by shifting their perspectives from a lost past to an attainable future.
So, this bright 2020, help your senior make a powerful New Year’s resolution that will last.
Easy New Year’s Resolutions for You and Your Senior
On the other hand, choosing a resolution that’s too easy will make you feel bored and unfulfilled.
That’s why the best tip for keeping new year’s resolutions is choosing the right resolution from the get-go.
Some good new year’s resolutions for you and your senior to try are:
- Exercise 1.5 hours a week
- Volunteer once a month
- Read 13 books
- Host family night every 2 weeks
- Start and finish 50% of a project you’ve been pushing off
- Smile when you see a stranger
Making New Year’s Resolutions Last Longer
It’s easy to make New Year’s resolutions. It’s harder to keep them and make them last longer than January.
However, there are a few tips and tricks that can really help you stick to your guns, and fulfill your resolution. The best one we can tell you today is: Schedule a time.
Telling ourselves “I’ll do it later,” is one of the biggest traps we fall for, because, we all know that later all too easily turns into never.
The best way to dodge this fall is by scheduling a specific time to do your resolution. If it’s a broader resolution, you can plan one day a week that you’ll be more cognizant of it. If it’s a specific resolution, you can plan a more specific time.
You wouldn’t miss an appointment you make with others, so don’t miss an appointment you make with yourself.
Helping Your Seniors Stick to Their Resolutions
If you notice that your senior is having trouble sticking to his or her New Year’s resolution, there are a few ways in which you can help.
First, check-in on your senior’s progress. We all need reminders every now and then, and we all need a little peer pressure – the good kind. Call up your senior and politely ask, “how’s the resolution going?” It might be enough to get them going again.
If that doesn’t work, the second thing you can do is offer to join them in their resolution. You don’t have to join in every time, but once and a while could really help your senior stay motivated.
And lastly, give encouraging words. If your senior is falling behind, remind them why they chose that resolution in the first place. Stress the fact that it’s never too late to get back on track.