Spring Time Resolutions- now is the time for change!

This week marked the official start of spring here in the UK and already I can feel the shift- the days are slowly getting longer and brighter, the temperature is rising and flowers are starting to appear.

Spring is a lovely time of year; I personally love all the seasons but spring feels particularly hopeful to me. It is a time of year where people tend to start feeling better in themselves as the day light hours increase and the temperature starts to slowly rise, we venture outside more and start to plan social events, plant our gardens and vegetable patches as we start to look forward to the promise of the long hot summer days to come.

It has long been known that New Years resolutions are a bad idea- in general making big life changes during the darkest most miserable time of the year, when everything around us is at rest and financially we may have taken a hit from the festive season, generally speaking isn't likely to work. For this reason New Years resolutions, for the most part, don't last. But good news Spring Time resolutions have a much better chance of sticking well into the long summer months ahead and hopefully beyond.

So if you have been wanting to quit smoking or cut back on alcohol consumption, to start writing a journal or walking the dog more. Maybe you want to make more of an effort with friends or family or change your career, learn a new skill- the possibilities are endless. What ever the change you want to make Spring is the time for it!

Tips for making changes

Change one thing at a time- making changes requires patience and dedication so don't overwhelm yourself with too many changes at once.
Set realistic and achievable goals- set goals you can achieve and build on them, going from say drinking 4 cans of pop a day to none is unrealistic, so cut back to 3 for a few weeks, then 2 and so on.
Track your progress- it gives us a little boost when we look back and see just how far we have come. Tracking your progress means you are more likely to succeed with your change.
Find a change buddy- making a big change can be much easier with the support of another likeminded individual, someone experiencing similar things to you can help you to ride the ups and downs of making a life change. There are many online and in person groups and forums for various life changes that you could access or you may have a friend or family member who wants to achieve similar goals to you that you could informally buddy up with. Sometimes however we are going through something very private or simply don't know anyone else going through a similar experience and in that case a paid professional such as a life coach, therapist or mentor may also help.

Ditch those doomed to fail New Years Resolutions and start your successful Spring Time Resolutions today to make those much needed life changes. I wish you every success.

Should you need any further support with making changes to your life, big or small, please do not hesitate to get in touch- my contact details can be found on my website and social media.

Author: Gill Jackson of Gill Jackson Therapeutic Counselling, BA Hons Counselling, Diploma in Couples and Family Therapy, Diploma in EFT, CIPD, SMACCPH

Bio: I am a Therapist/Psychotherapist, Accredited Mentor and Teacher in private practice in the UK, qualified since 2007. Working with adults and young adults. I specialise in Anxiety Disorders and Depression.

Email: www.gilljacksoncounselling@gmail.com

Web: www.gilljacksoncounselling.com

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This article is not intended as a replacement for medical advice, if you are suffering from any physical or mental ill health please seek advice of your Doctor where necessary.

Images used with permission from Wix and Unsplashed.