You always hear people discuss New Year's resolutions at the beginning of the year. Many complain about the ones they failed to do in the past. Some shrug off their failures and set the same resolutions from previous years. And others smile about the resolutions they managed to accomplish and brainstorm new ones for the upcoming year.
However, with all this talk about resolutions, you may be wondering what they mean. After all, people typically bring up New Year's resolutions without explaining what they are and why they're common. But honestly, they're not that complicated.
New Year's resolutions are simply goals or promises to do something different. These goals are things you commit to at the beginning of the year, but oftentimes, they're hard to accomplish.
Most people struggle to achieve their New Year's resolutions, and it's not for lack of caring. There's just a handful of obstacles that tend to pop up. Still, that doesn't mean you shouldn't strive for better.
Many of the most popular New Year's resolutions are more than possible to achieve. All you have to do is know the obstacles you may encounter, determine ways to overcome them, and get resources that'll help you make the changes you promised to do.
Why New Year's resolutions fail
New Year's resolutions are like every other goal. They require effort and consistency to accomplish. However, the tricky thing about setting resolutions on January 1st is that you're creating goals at the very beginning of the year, meaning you have to stay committed for 365 days.
That's different from establishing a goal in the middle of the year or during a particular season when your dedication and effort only have to last around 3-6 months. For example, say you want to develop more muscle or a six-pack before summer.
In this scenario, you usually exercise and eat healthy during the winter and spring. Or, you do a one-month detox and a 30-day ab plan to get quick results before your motivation wanes. But as soon as swimsuit weather passes, your workout regimen and healthy eating habits go with it.
Of course, this behavior is normal. You find plenty of people who easily commit to goals for a short period. However, finding someone who can make a change for 365 is an entirely different ballgame. Dedicating yourself to a New Year's resolution is difficult.
Not only does the inability to stay motivated for 12-months plague your chances of success, but many other obstacles come into play that you may not even consider.
You might struggle to accomplish your New Year's resolutions for the following reasons:
These roadblocks have become so prevalent that most New Year's resolutions fail by mid-March. Undoubtedly, good intentions to start fresh and make changes are not simple things you can do without taking the proper steps.
How to achieve your New Year's resolutions
Because dreams are not easily attainable, many researchers have conducted studies to see how you can better achieve your ambitions. And thankfully, there are five concrete, research-backed steps that you can take to accomplish your New Year's resolutions.
Studies suggest that adding cues to your goal will help you remember when to do them. For example, maybe you want to meditate more. In that case, write down that you plan to meditate every weekday during your lunch break at work. Planning when and where you'll follow through with each of your resolutions will enhance your success.
While this may sound scary, creating a penalty for failing to achieve a resolution is a great incentive to stay focused. One easy way to do this is to make a bet with a friend that you'll reach your goals and put some money on the line.
If you have fun sticking to your goals, you're more likely to achieve them. For instance, have fun workout sessions if you want to get fit. Enjoying the process will ensure you remain persistent.
It's normal to deviate from your New Year's resolutions when things happen in life. But please, don't think you're a failure. Every week, give yourself a couple of get-out-of-jail-free cards. Research suggests that taking this step with tougher goals leads to better results.
Spending time with others who are just as motivated can work wonders in achieving your resolutions. Being around high achievers will help you conform to their patterns, and studies indicate that asking others how they accomplished similar goals will increase your success rate.
Accomplish your New Year's resolutions with Khutsala Artisans
The last thing you need to achieve your New Year's resolutions is resources to help you stay committed. No one's ever accomplished anything without having the right pieces in place, and the same is true for every resolution you set on January 1st.
Don't believe it?
Here are five of the most popular New Year's resolutions and the handmade items you need to get from Khutsala Artisans to achieve them.
You can't decorate or renovate your home without incredible decor, and Khutsala Artisans has plenty to offer. One popular piece that you'll love is the Lucky Seed Bowl. It's a beautiful, neutral-colored item that can spice up the coffee table in your living room, and it's hand-beaded with Maputjuju beads that are native to Eswatini and commonly referred to as Job's tears in other parts of the world.
Additionally, if you have an office space that you want to brighten up, the Beaded Tulips are a great choice. They contain thousands of beads and come in white, red, orange, pink, sea moss, and oil slick. They fit perfectly into Khutsala Artisans' white Beaded Vase, which you can put on the corner of your desk.
Other pieces of home decor that you'll love include the Beaded Barnyard Set and Beaded Dragons, which are both fun, unique additions to any kid's room.
When you want to get fit, it's essential to put the right things in your body, including lots of water and healthy fluids. One of the ways you can make this easier is with Khutsala Artisans' hand-blown glass Beverage Chiller.
Created with recycled glass, this item is a unique piece that's easy to use. All you have to do is add ice to the opening on the side. Then, you can fill the Beverage Chiller with your favorite drink.
It's especially great after a good workout. So, put a tasty drink in the chiller before you start exercising, and it'll be nice and cold once you finish breaking a sweat.
Creating memories with your children is a fun New Year's resolution, and one of the best ways to do it is with the Project Canaan Checkers Board.
This item is inspired by the 2,500-acre land development project that's providing hope in Eswatini. On Project Canaan, you'll find multiple children's homes for Swazi kids who grew up without guardians or a healthy environment. You'll also find Project Canaan Academy, where the kids go to school to get an excellent education, an opportunity that's hard to receive in Eswatini.
On top of that, the Swazi adults who make the products at Khutsala Artisans are all headquartered at Project Canaan. And the profits from every item that Khutsala Artisans sells go directly to the children's homes.
The faith-based humanitarian organization that runs Project Canaan is Heart for Africa, and if you're looking for volunteer opportunities, this team has plenty. By going on one of its mission trips, you can spend time with the children on Project Canaan, get a tour of Khutsala Artisans' operations center, and help out in the general day-to-day tasks.
You'll also get a chance to care for a Swazi family that's in need by taking them food and clothing, listening to their stories, and providing encouragement and prayer. Doing these simple things is monumental in the lives of Swazis, who live in a country suffering from hunger, an orphan crisis, poverty, and poor education.
However, there are also beautiful things in Eswatini, which you'll get to experience during your mission trip. Heart for Africa will take you to a local market for a fun shopping expedition and spend the day with you on a game safari or at a wildlife preserve.
If supporting a good cause is your New Year's resolution, Khutsala Artisans has you covered.
As mentioned earlier, when you buy something from Khutsala Artisans, the profits go to the children's homes at Project Canaan. It doesn't matter if you purchase home decor, entertainment pieces, or jewelry. All of the profits will support the Swazi children who call Project Canaan home.
The money will help pay for medical care, baby formula, clothing, food, and night-shift aunties, who care for the children. The profits will also fund other things—outside of the basic necessities— like toys, school supplies, birthday presents, books, field trips, and more.
However, another great reason to buy from Khutsala Artisans is that your purchase helps create jobs in Eswatini. This country's unemployment rate is one of the highest in the world, and it's contributing to the 58.9 percent of Swazis who live below the national poverty line in rural areas.
But Khutsala Artisans is committed to providing jobs in Eswatini to reduce unemployment and extreme poverty. All the men and women making the home decor and jewelry are Swazis, and buying products from Khutsala Artisans helps give more jobs to Swazis in Eswatini.
Nail your goals in the new year
By knowing the common obstacles that you'll face and the best ways to overcome them, you'll have no problem achieving your New Year's resolutions. Just make sure to have fun along the way and don't put too much pressure on yourself. Setting goals and accomplishing them should be a fun process that you enjoy every single day.
Make the new year special by purchasing items from Khutsala Artisans that help achieve your resolutions while supporting a great cause!
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