The New Year is Coming: Time to Change Everything

 As we approach the end of 2024 and look forward to 2025, many people are thinking about ways they could be better/have a better life by making significant lifestyle changes. While exercising more and spending less are admirable desires, New Year’s resolutions don’t usually end up lasting all that long. Why? Because changing oneself doesn’t happen with the flip of a calendar.

Change takes work and intentionality over long periods of time. Often, more success is found by making small changes that you build on over time. Starting out with a goal of going to the gym for an hour every day is a big commitment. Life happens, and when a missed day inevitably occurs, there can be a great sense of failure and lack of motivation to continue. If working out every day is an eventual goal, starting out with a once-a-week goal is much more attainable. You get a sense of achievement, which then builds motivation to keep going and increase frequency.

I’m also not the biggest fan of setting goals in winter when the days are cold and short. While a new year is a logical place for many to start, seasonal depression can be a barrier for many. I usually get a sense of newness and a desire to make changes in the Spring rather than at the beginning of a new year. The days are getting warmer and longer, trees and flowers are beginning to bloom, and the world around me feels ready for growth. In truth, beginning change can happen at any time.

This past April, I had the desire to learn how to crochet. Grandma used to make the best dishcloths, and I wanted to be able to make them like her. I added some inexpensive hooks and yarn to my Walmart pickup order and began practicing while watching YouTube videos. I focused on a simple goal: make a dishcloth. It didn’t need to be a perfect square; it just needed to vaguely resemble something I could wash dishes with. I made many mistakes and had to undo many rows of work, but I have since made many more dishcloths, some baby blankets, a (questionable looking) bucket hat, and a me-sized blanket among other projects. I have many more projects lined up that I am excited to work on.

When I look back at 2024, learning to crochet was one of the best changes I decided to make. It brought a great amount of creativity to my life and gave me something to do with my hands while watching TV. I had no clue that crochet would become a significant part of my life at the beginning of the year, and January me would not have been motivated enough to see it through. I’m so glad I didn’t wait for the “perfect” time to start. I just started.

If you want to make changes in your life in the new year, don’t limit yourself with shoulds. Find what works best for you, and don’t be afraid to just start when you can. Start with a bite-sized goal and build from there. You don’t have to wait for the beginning of the year or a new month to set a new goal or rethink what matters to you. Most importantly, be intentional with what changes you make and how you make them so they truly reflect your priorities.

--Concetta Swann