Why We All Need New Year’s Resolutions This Year

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A year ago, I felt confident that the pandemic’s end was in sight, and life would soon return to normal. Did you think so, too? But, here we are, entering another new year with COVID looming over our lives.

As I see it, we can respond in one of two ways. We can dread what the new year might bring and simply endure whatever comes our way. Or, we can pull ourselves up by the britches and make 2022 the best year possible.

With this in mind, I’m sharing a rough draft of my New Year’s resolutions for 2022. I hope this will inspire you to create goals and set the stage for your best possible year, too. In addition, you can offer your residents an opportunity to create New Year’s resolutions. Check out these seven resolution ideas to help them get started.

As a guideline for brainstorming my resolutions, I’m using the 7 dimensions of well-being, a concept developed by Dr. Bill Hettler. (You can remember them with the acronym SPECIES.) Today I’ll share what I’ve come up with so far. I know your goals for the new year may be far different from mine, but I hope my thoughts will trigger ideas for you.

Note that I still need to tweak my goals to make them SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timely).

Spiritual

I don’t know how many times I’ve made a resolution to read the entire Bible in one year. Yet, I’ve never succeeded. I start out with good intentions, but then I reach some of the more tedious books of the Old Testament, and I throw in the towel.

This year, I’ll use a different approach. My plan is to read through the New Testament by year’s end instead of the entire Bible. I’m also considering the option of an audio version, and I’m looking for a good study guide. (If you have suggestions, please let me know in the comment section.)

Physical

I’ve never been fond of exercise—except perhaps the Jazzercise classes I attended back in the 1980s! And any plans to exercise have fallen by the wayside since my cancer diagnosis in March. The overwhelming fatigue and other symptoms that come with cancer treatment make exercise the last thing I feel like doing.

Yet, as I learn about promoting health amid a cancer diagnosis, I see so many benefits from exercise, including increased energy, better sleep, fewer treatment side effects, and improved mood.

Historically, when I’ve made New Year’s resolutions involving exercise, I go way overboard and quickly burn myself out. So, this time I plan to take little steps and begin with gentler approaches, like yoga and tai chi.

Emotional

People who know me well know how much I dislike winter. I don’t like the cold, or the icy roads, or the blizzards. Yet, there’s nothing I can do to change these things, so why do I make myself miserable by brooding over them?

In 2022, I plan to create a variety of fun little activities to celebrate winter. I’m tossing a few ideas around in my head, and I’ll let you know what I come up with in January. So, be sure to check back!

Career

This is a tough one for me because I haven’t been able to return to my job since starting cancer treatment. And I have no idea when I’ll be able to work again. So, for now, I’ll skip setting a goal in this area.

But, that’s the beauty of New Year’s resolutions. We can always revise our goals throughout the year as life’s circumstances change.

Intellectual

Especially while I’m away from my job, I don’t want to grow mentally stagnant. That’s why I plan to learn something new each week in 2022. I’ll use some of the free tools available online, such as MOOCs and Khan Academy. (Please take a look at these resources. I’m guessing you’ll find classes of interest for your residents, too!)

Environmental

I’m excited about this area because I plan to do serious Swedish Death Cleaning in 2022. Does this sound morbid? Don’t worry, it’s not.

The basic premise of death cleaning is to declutter and organize our lives to lessen the burden on our loved ones after we die. Whether I die next year, or in twenty years, I don’t want my children to face the extra stress of figuring out what to do with my possessions.

If this New Year’s resolution interests you, I highly recommend a book by Margareta Magnusson:

Social

Like many of you, I’ve gone through some rough experiences in my life. But my cancer journey is the first time I’ve truly had to humble myself and depend on other people for help. As friends and family come to my aid, I realize how deeply these acts of kindness touch my heart.

In the new year, I want to look for opportunities to pay it forward. While my illness limits what I can physically do to help, I know I’ll find a myriad of other ways I can reach out to people. To come up with ideas, I’m using a website called 365give.

I truly want to make 2022 a year of kindness. Will you join me? (If you’re looking for ways your residents can help other people in the new year, be sure to check out these 70 acts of kindness.)

We’re more prone to keep New Year’s resolutions when we share our progress with other people. So, I plan to check in with my readers in three months and let you know how my resolutions are coming along. If you would also like accountability in your resolutions, please feel free to share them in the comment section.