New Year Resolutions

Noticed a yahoo news article about making new year resolutions. It mentioned that making New Year resolution can be bad for mental health. This heading actually attracted me to find out why. I had actually done up a few new year resolutions and now someone is telling me that trying to self-improve can be detrimental.

The British mental health charity Mind mentioned that making resolutions focusing on physical imperfections as such resolution creates a negative self image and lead to feelings of low self-esteem, hopelessness and even mild depression. This is when the result is not achieved, this could spark feelings of inadequacy and failure. Such resolutions can have unrealistic goals and when people fail to achieve them, people end up feeling worse than at the start of the year. Mind's advice is to think positively about the year to come and what we can achieve instead of making resolutions which is to focus on being active, connecting with nature and learning something new and working for one's community.

To me, not making resolution will be like going into the new year without any direction. I usually set resolutions that are reasonable and not have unrealistic goals. Why do something which one can never achieve? But it'll still be alright if lessons can be learnt and help in personal growth even if the goal is not achieved. Well, I'm glad to say that the resolutions I've set are all in line with Mind's advice. Hehe...

Resolutions for Year 2009
1) Give back to the community - blood donation and volunteer work
2) Self improvement - learn taichi and dancing

Of course it'll be good to find myself a girlfriend. This is not a resolution as it is not within my full control.

My next step now is to plan a timetable to fit in these activities and time management will be needed here as next year, I will be handling one more building in the 3rd quarter of the year. Its going to be challenging and I'm looking forward to it.

Happy new year. I hope to have a great 2009.