For some people, the idea of a ‘do-over’ on January 1 is useful. But for the rest of us, New Year’s Resolutions are just another way to set ourselves up for disappointment.

The good news is that there are many ways to create change! Let’s look at some examples:

Word of the Year

Is there a word that you can focus on to upgrade your life?

My word for 2022 was ‘Professional’. I used that word to keep me focused, and now have a new website, account­ing software, online bookings, and e-commerce.

What might your word for 2023 be?

Try this:

Choose your word – write it down. Place it somewhere you’ll see it. Reflect on how your actions align with this word through­out the year.

Identity shift

How we identify is a powerful driver of how we behave. Take the examples of ‘a coffee snob’, or ‘a dog person’. You can imagine how those people make choices that bolster that identity, right?

This year, I became:

A non-drinker, and a cyclist. Because I identify as a non-drinker, my default is to not drink alcohol. I now have to make the decision to drink – not to abstain. As a bike rider, I don’t wonder what I’m going to do with my spare time on a weekend…I ride my bike, because that’s something cyclists do! Deciding to embody who you want to be, is a fun and impactful way to make big changes. This is different to faking it, because you are actually being it.

Who will you be in 2023?

Try this:

Think about the type of person you want to be. Embody that character. Refer to yourself as that type of person, and behave like that type of person. Voila! You are that type of person!

Vision Board

Visualisation has been used through­out history to enhance performance by activating neurotransmitters in our brains. By using cues like a vision board, you can remind your brain of how it can seek things in life that confirm what you desire.

For example, if you want to spend more time outdoors, you are more likely to notice and engage with nature if you regularly remind your brain of that desire through words and images.

What do you want 2023 to look like?

Try this:

Set aside some time with a stack of images and a big piece of cardboard. Create a collage which feels motivating in your body. Reflect on this often.

Make a plan

Investment into a conscious design of all areas of your life will move you from a throw-away promise made over a glass of bubbly, to a life you choose for yourself every day.

How are you planning for your whole life, in 2023 and beyond?

Try this:

Start by creating statements about how you want different areas of your life to be.

Ask yourself “How might I make this more true?” Record the actions you come up with. If you need help, engage a coach, attend a workshop, or get Googling!

And lastly – you always have the option to choose not to change! Being grateful for where we are and what we already have is a wonderful thing to do as we step forward into a new year.

I wish you a safe, happy and fulfilling 2023!

Bonnie Tuttle is a Business and Lifestyle Coach living on the Eastern Shore. She specialises in better work and more authentic living; and believes that sup­porting local communities will save the world. www.bonnietuttle.com.au, @bonnietuttleconsultant.