Making New Year Resolutions: Important for Caregivers

Thank you for sharing

It’s easy to minimize, however, making New Year resolutions can be beneficial for caregivers. Here is why I make personal resolutions.

NOTE: This post has been updated since it was originally published on December 29, 2022.

Making New Year resolutions is a controversial issue, and there are definitely pros and cons to doing them, but as a busy caregiver, here is why I make my own personal New Year resolutions.

I wasn’t always into making healthy resolutions for the new year. When I was young and in my 20s, I was very diligent about making them.

But as my life grew full with a husband, kids, and other responsibilities, it seemed my resolutions would fade as quickly as I made them.

Discouraged by repeated setbacks, I stopped making New Year resolutions altogether – until caregiving entered my life, that is being a caregiver for Doug who is managing Parkinson’s disease.

Losing Oneself As A Caregiver

When Doug was initially diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, I stepped hard and fast into the caregiver role.

So much so that I forgot about myself for a time, and I put all of my effort into learning about Parkinson’s disease – how to treat it, its repercussions, what life might look like for us down the road, and more.

Basically, I jumped right back into my nursing role and let everything else go by the wayside.

Shortly thereafter, however, I got burnt out and began resenting Doug for ‘taking up so much of my time’ when in fact, he wasn’t taking up my time at all.

Doug hadn’t asked for help, he still manages most daily activities on his own.

It was I who chose to put myself in the caregiver role full force and to immerse myself in learning everything I could about Parkinson’s disease.

Gradually I began loosening up on being Doug’s caregiver when it wasn’t much necessary, and I stepped back into a daily routine with my own goals and dreams.

After a year or two from when Doug was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s, I began again making resolutions but this time, they were very well thought out, not just random wishes.

Making New Year Resolutions

Now my New Year resolutions are clear and specific, they pertain to how I can best show up in the world – both as a caregiver for Doug and as a whole, healthy human being within my community.

Showing up means maintaining my own health and vitality through daily choices in nutrition, sleep, exercise, stress management, and more.

No one is perfect but setting goals and visualizing the type of people we want to be helps turn goals into reality.

Visualization takes practice, it is difficult to make things happen if you don’t have a clear plan.

Life inevitably brings its share of unexpected challenges and opportunities, however, visualizing and having a clear picture in our mind helps to make goals and dreams a reality that much sooner.

How To Make Healthy New Year Resolutions

Here are some suggestions on how to make healthy resolutions for the New Year.

Reflection

Taking the time to reflect is the first step toward making positive lifestyle changes and healthy New Year resolutions.

When we understand where we’ve come from – both the victories and challenges – we are better able to set meaningful goals.

Reflecting on our role as a caregiver will help us make impactful resolutions that resonate with our caregiving journey and personal well-being.

Dream

When you are finished reflecting, this is the time to let your mind go free and dream about all of the healthy things and behaviors you want for yourself.

It does not have to be just physical health alone, it can also be healthy thoughts and behaviors, healthy attitudes, friends, healthy and mindful purchases, healthy spiritual life, etc.

Journal

While you are dreaming, put all of these thoughts on paper. It can be in the form of words, sketches, drawings, photographs, magazine clippings, etc.

I particularly like photographs and magazine clippings because it instantly gives me a perfect visual of where I’d like to be.

Vision Board

If you really want to make your healthy resolutions come to fruition, make a vision board.

Vision boards are powerful tools, I have made several and they are a fun way to see your personal goals for the upcoming year.

Truth be told, 99% of my vision board notes, comments, and pictures have all come true!

You can also download a vision board app to create one on your phone or iPad if you’d like. Check out THIS article for reviews on several different vision board apps.

For me, creating a physical vision board the old-school way is one of my favorite rituals.

There is something deeply therapeutic about sitting down with magazines, scissors, and glue, carefully selecting and arranging images that speak to my dreams and goals.

This hands-on process allows me to slow down and truly connect with my goals in a way that digital vision boards do not match.

Look and Review Daily

Now that you’ve made your healthy resolutions for the New Year, be it through writing, drawing, scrapbooking, or with a vision board, now is the time to look at it and review it daily.

You can’t make goals and resolutions and then not address them every single day.

I find looking at my goals every morning while I am getting ready for the day to be the most helpful.

Some people even tape them onto their bathroom mirrors for easy access. Whatever works for you is great, just make sure to review them daily.

New Year Resolutions: Healthy Examples

To get you started, and to help get the creative juices flowing, here are some ideas to consider when making New Year resolutions.

Physical Well-Being

• Do some form of physical activity for 15 minutes every day (walking, stretching, weight or band exercises, yoga, etc.).
• Walk after meals.
• Get a massage one time per month.
• Develop a quality and consistent sleep schedule.
• Work on healthy eating, make the majority of the food you eat daily non-processed food.
• Limit alcoholic drinks to weekends only.
• Reduce consumption of sweet sugary snacks.
• Buy a piece of cardio equipment so you will have easy access at home.
• Start a yoga practice, in person or online.
• Commit to a gym membership and connect with a friend as an accountability partner.

Mental Well-Being

• Meditate for a minimum of 10 minutes per day.
• Write in a journal daily.
• Commit to seeing a licensed therapist at least one time per month.
• Limit time on social media.
• Start a new hobby, learn to crochet (or any other craft you have been wanting to learn).
• Take a class, either in person or online (ex. sign language class, photography, art history, etc.).
• Read one book per month on improving your mental health.

Spiritual Well-Being

• Meditate for a minimum of 10 minutes daily.
• Start a gratitude journal.
• Attend church service regularly.
• Read the Bible daily (or other spiritual readings).
• Join a connect group through your local church.
• Do a spiritual reading or Bible plan every morning or evening.
• Get in the habit of praying daily.

Social Connection and Community Well-Being

• Start a walking group.
• Start a knitting or craft group.
• Volunteer your services or time one time per month.
• Coffee with friends a minimum of one time per month (even if it’s online virtually).
• Go to the farmer’s market to buy produce and get to know your local farmers.
• Volunteer at your church or any other community organization.
• Start a poker club.

This year I highly recommend you make some healthy resolutions for yourself. They don’t have to be anything big and crazy.

Just a few little things to help you remember that you are important and worthy of goal setting as well.

Shaping Your Path As A Caregiver

Sometimes we as caregivers forget about our health and our own dreams and future because we are so busy caring for our loved ones.

It can be easy to stop dreaming because you may feel like you don’t really have a future anymore – or at least not a hopeful future.

Please don’t despair! I believe there is always beauty in the ashes, and you are worth investing a little time to dream and make goals for yourself and your own future.

In the past, I gave up making New Year resolutions but now, as a caregiver, it is my time to dream big about my future.

It may not look like I originally thought it would but I truly believe I can make it beautiful, and perhaps even better.

We can make lemonade out of lemons. This should consistently be our mantra.

More Helpful Articles

• 5 Simple Dumbbell Exercises: Full Body Beginner Workout
• Planning For The Future As A Caregiver: Tips To Consider
• Infrared Sauna Benefits: Using My Sauna At Home
• 10 Best Caring Inspirational Quotes For Caregivers
• Laughter Is Good For The Soul: A Caregiver Perspective

VIDEO: Back Into The Caregiver Routine After My Trip to California

I had the good fortune of spending the Christmas holiday with my three children in California. What a great trip it was. Check out this video! My return to Cape Cod and how I get back into the swing of work and life as a caregiver.

Let’s Connect

I hope you enjoyed this article and found it helpful in creating New Year resolutions for yourself as a caregiver.

QUESTION. What are some of your resolutions and goals for this next year?

Let me know in the comment section below. I’d love to hear from you.

Additional Caregiver Support and Healthy Recipes

Thank you for sharing