Expert: New Years Resolution Can Help, If Reasonable

Is creating a New Year’s Resolution a smart idea?

Local Psychologist Peggy Karlosky said resolutions require a balance of effort and flexibility. Karlosy said preparing to make changes can take more effort than you’re accustomed to. She said that means being compassionate with yourself throughout the process.

“The matter about the way we try and reach those goals can be unhealthy, “Karlosky said. “We can put so much pressure on ourselves, that we set ourselves up for discouragement. I think we have to have a little grace with ourselves and be reasonable”.

Karlosky said that setting New Year’s Resolutions can be crucial for boosting motivation. By focusing on specific goals instead of broad goals, Karlosky said individuals can create more attainable targets to strive for.

“I think goals can give us some direction and motivation, ” Karlosky said. “I think the negative part of it can be sometimes when we have unhealthy goals or we’re too rigid. Our goals are too vague, we don’t know if we are making progress.”

Karlosky said it is important that resolutions be attainable. Karlosky said that one of the biggest challenges people face is comparing their resolutions to others.

“We think we are going to have the same kinda goal that they have when we’re just starting, ” Karlosky said. “Sometimes we compare and we set rigid goals that aren’t reasonable cause were not at the same starting place.”