Open a New Chapter in Your Life in the New Year

New Year's is not just a change of date; it is also a time when many people experience renewal and increased motivation. Ezgi Dokuzlu Tezel, a specialist clinical psychologist at Anadolu Medical Center, points out that for some, the new year signifies an ending, while for others, it represents a new beginning, reminding us of the swift flow of life and change. "Setting new goals can be a source of motivation for people to take action with renewed energy to achieve what they could not in the past. Of course, the New Year is no different from ordinary days in our lives, but transitioning to a new period and a new year allows us to evaluate new decisions in our minds, reflect on our feelings and thoughts, and celebrate being with our loved ones. Spending time with family and loved ones is also a great opportunity to review our relationships and strengthen our social supports in the new year. This way, we can feel better emotionally and distance ourselves from the stresses of daily life," she explained.

In the early days of the year, one may feel the need to make many new decisions about life. The New Year is a wonderful time for new beginnings, but when returning to the routine, the initial motivation can fade. In the first days of the year, we may feel enthusiastic, but as we become absorbed in our daily routine, we can drift away from the goals we so desperately wanted to achieve. We may set goals for self-improvement, such as eating healthily, exercising, picking up a new hobby, learning a language, working harder, exploring new places, or living more organized lives. However, initiating and maintaining these decisions is not always easy. For instance, a runner might start the new year with the resolution to "run every day." In the first week, waking up early each morning to run in the park energizes and invigorates them. However, over time, motivation may decrease, and getting out of bed may become challenging. This is where it becomes important for the runner to set small, measurable goals and reward themselves after each run. They might consider setting goals like dining at their favorite restaurant after every ten runs or incorporating a rest interval after every ten runs.

Progress Toward Goals Step by Step

Advancing toward goals step by step, stage by stage, is an important point that should not be underestimated for sustainable motivation. Therefore, setting small and realistic goals and taking things one step at a time is crucial for avoiding pessimism and achieving success. The key is to be patient in reaching big goals and to appreciate ourselves for our small achievements.

Ezgi Dokuzlu Tezel Shared 4 Important Insights as We Enter the New Year

• We should treat ourselves well, avoiding belittling our successes, competing with others, and instead focus on accepting ourselves as we are and concentrating on what needs to be done. To feel more peaceful and healthy, our goals in the new year should be our own dreams, and our competition should be only with ourselves.
• As we enter a new year, it is important to reflect on past periods and learn from that process. Ask yourself how close you came to your goals over the past time, what achievements and challenges you experienced, and write your answers down somewhere.
• Remember that mistakes are inevitable and perfection can be an unreachable goal.
• Question how you feel while achieving your goals. Over time, our goals and emotions can change; accepting and adapting to these changes is a part of your journey. This process will prepare you to take more solid and conscious steps in the new year and guide you in shaping your future.