Moving Beyond Words and Taking More Action

If we are starting a new year, then we should have a new approach, right?  As the days fly through December and New Year's Eve is upon us we all realize a new year is there.  We have to get used to writing a different month and a different year.  For some, January is a  month of struggles due to insurmountable bills in addition to cold and snowy weather.  New resolutions in the middle of winter aren't always good to set so how can we create and redesign a way to put new habits into action without failure?

Every year we hear the same platitudes and metaphors and it is becoming rather cliche about "New Year, New You."  It is always a wonderful opportunity to get a jump start on putting forth new goals, but do we have to continue with the old catch phrases? We need to create a new script and recreate a better approach to redesigning and revamping our routine for a new year.  When people begin to see those cliche words "New Year, New You," it is rote and quickly disregarded.  

These little cliche catch phrases are unfulfilled expectations that turns to disappointment.  Younger people who are using these words for the first time think they are being cute and trendy, but they haven't created anything new.

What is a way to restate these words in a fresh new way? People aren't always receptive to words, we need to prove with action and with something tangible and motivational that people can utilize. 

So is it really about going beyond the script and beyond words? 

We can survey our community and reach out to people to hear what has worked and what hasn't worked.  Are there any tools that can be given to help people reach their "new year resolutions?"

Should we even use the words "new year resolution" anymore?  Many are tuning out to that all together.  

We all know the trends and how people post "New Hair, New Year" or "New Year, New 'Do."  We know it is a new year the moment we ring in January 1st.  We even know a new year is approaching when we celebrate Christmas.  We all see our calendars.  

So why with the same old, rote, cliche catch phrases if we are saying it is a NEW year and a NEW you? Shouldn't we have a new approach and a new word or phrase?

Patience with ourselves is the one thing that will help people continue new habits.  Habits are hard to break in, especially when they are new and good habits.  

•  physical giveaways
  
• outside meetings
• supermarket tours
• handouts (not in email, but real, paper handouts)

People want to hold something in their hands, especially when they  pay with their hard earned money.  Many are tired and also facing "virtual anxiety" or "Zoom Gloom" from so much Internet and screen time, so we need to take that into account, too.