By Chandra (Cas) Salmond, Omak Public Library
As the clock ticks down to 2025, many of us start to notice that familiar feeling bubbling up: the urge to reinvent, refresh and restart!
Although many of us know intellectually that every day is an opportunity to shed old habits and try something new, there’s something inspiring about moving into a new year that motivates us to move our hopes of becoming our best selves into resolutions to do so. Unfortunately, statistics show that most people abandon their resolutions within the first few months of the New Year. Don’t let this be you!
Shilagh Migrain, (UW Health, 2022), a psychologist with UW Health, recommends four tips to help us turn our aspirational New Year’s resolutions into achievable goals that can make 2025 our best year yet:
- Reflect—Reflecting on the last year is not just about reviewing past success and failures—it’s about learning from your experiences, understanding yourself better and using that knowledge to set meaningful, achievable goals. What did you enjoy most about the last year? What made for your best-spent weekend—who were you with and what were you doing? What would maximize your health and happiness?
- Envision—Spend some time daydreaming about how you’d like to see yourself a year from now. Who do you envision spending your time with, and in what ways? Where would you like your finances to be? How does your work/life balance look? The process of envisioning your future transforms goals from mere tasks to powerful, motivating dreams that inspire you to take more meaningful steps towards achieving them.
- Be realistic—The way you frame your goals – or New Year’s resolution- can have a sizable impact on your ability to achieve them. Overwhelmingly, when people fail to achieve their new goals, it’s because they’ve set unrealistic expectations in the first place. Once you’ve settled on a goal, try breaking it down into measurable steps, things you can do daily, weekly and monthly to move you in the direction of your larger vision.
- Plan and anticipate obstacles—Consider in advance what sorts of things might trip you up on your goals for improvement, and plan accordingly. Often, we allow minor setbacks to completely derail us from our larger goal, and in the process, we beat ourselves up relentlessly. When we plan for obstacles, unexpected challenges don’t seem nearly as overwhelming or discouraging. When those setbacks arise, we can treat them as part of the learning process and approach them with a solution-orientated mindset.
For many people change can be daunting, but you don’t have to go it alone! As your community connector, NCW Libraries has a wealth of resources to help inspire, support and connect you with whatever you need to achieve your New Year’s goals!
Resolution: Mental and Physical Health
Los Siete Círculos: Enseñanzas Indígenas para Vivir Bien by Chelsey Luger and Thosh Collins
(Disponible en print, ebook and eaudiobook)
The authors, an Indigenous couple, bring together their mixed heritages to create a model comprised of seven interconnected circles that keep all aspects of our lives in balance and functioning in harmony with one another
Rehab Science: How to overcome pain and heal from injury by Tom Walters
(Disponible en imprimir)
The best way to start a new year is by taking better care of our bodies. Rehab Science takes a deep dive into understanding the sources of pain, then provides specific actions for improving common ailments.
Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond Productivity Culture by Jenny Odell
(Disponible en print, ebook and eaudiobook)
Bestselling author, artist, and educator Jenny Odell challenges readers’ perspectives on our modern clock-based world. Drawing on wisdom from traditional societies and nature, she presents new approaches to experiencing time to help us lead better lives.
The Joy of Connections by Ruth Westheimer
(Disponible en imprimir)
In her final book, beloved therapist and talk show host Dr. Ruth shares lessons to combat the loneliness epidemic and build stronger connections, based on her inspiring life story and career.
Resolution: Home Organization
Organizing with Tetris by Kathi Burns
Disponible en imprimir
Powered by the principles of one of the world’s most popular puzzle games, Organizing with Tetris tackles the organization for every room in your home and even unexpected corners of your life.
The Home Edit: Stay Organized by Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin
Disponible en imprimir
The Home Edit is a guide to the most important phase of getting organized: staying that way!
Resolution: Financial Health
MoneyZen by Manisha Thakor
Disponible en imprimir y libro electronico
MoneyZen will help you discover a way to reclaim your life and get off the hamster wheel of 24/7 striving so you can live a life fueled by authentic joy, connection, and meaning.
Pillars of Wealth by David Greene
Disponible en imprimir
Whether you’re drowning in debt, swimming in cash, or floating in assets, David Greene’s approach will revitalize your wealth-building strategy.
Pathfinders: extraordinary stories of people like you on the quest for financial independence by J.L. Collins
Disponible en imprimir
Pathfinders brings together scores of amazing and insightful real-life stories from real people on a quest to find financial independence–providing practical encouragement and inspiration for anyone who wants to join them.
Beyond Getting By: the financial diet’s guide to abundant and intentional living by Holly Trantham
Disponible en print, ebook, and eaudiobook
Fun, tangible advice on how to live with money, not for money. The women behind The Financial Diet will teach you how to create a life you truly enjoy.
Resolution: Learning Something New
An award-winning online language-learning system that uses immersive, bite-size lessons and immediate pronunciation feedback for 30 different languages, including English as a second language. Find a program specifically tailored to your learning style and improve your language skills for travel, work, or fun.
Unlimited training on a wide variety of topics, including business skills and software, web design and development, music and audio, photography, video editing and animation. With courses on business, technology, creative skills, and personal development, you can learn at your own pace from home or on the go.
Prueba de Peterson y preparación profesional
Online practice tests and study materials for the GED, SAT, ACT, Praxis, NCLEX, TOEFL, postal and military exams, citizenship, law enforcement, occupational tests, certification and licensing tests and more. Access an extensive collection of practice tests, study guides, and expert advice, gaining the knowledge you need to excel.
Countless online video classes and crafts workshops taught by experts, covering a wide range of topics from sewing, knitting and crocheting, painting, drawing, embroidery, cake decoration, holiday crafts and more!
The library is more than just a place to borrow books—it’s a community hub full of opportunities for personal growth. Whether you want to read more, learn a new skill, improve your health, or join others in a new learning event, your local library has the resources and programs to help you achieve your 2025 goals. So, as you make your New Year’s resolutions, don’t forget to make your library a key part of your journey to a new and improved you!
And don’t forget to tune in every Tuesday during Winter Reading for more staff reading suggestions!
¡Feliz lectura!
Español de México