Tag Archives: keeping your resolution

How to Set Resolutions You’ll Actually Keep

We spend the last part of any given year eating too much sugar, listening to countdowns, and reading best-of lists. We spend the first part of a new year thinking ahead to a lofty, ambiguous future, setting unattainable goals, and hoping for the best. And somewhere in this make-believe world is where we spend time setting New Year’s resolutions.

Reality check, anyone?

Laura Vanderkam has one for you. She’s a time management expert who has studied the habits of busy people and written a number of books about it, including her most recent, I Know How She Does It: How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time. And through the research for this book, she discovered just how elastic our schedules can really be.

“‘I don’t have time,’ often means ‘It’s not a priority,’” said Laura during a Ted Talk she gave this October. “Using this language reminds us that time is a choice.”

Since so much about keeping New Year’s resolutions comes down to choosing how our time will be spent throughout the subsequent year, we have a lot to learn from Vanderkam’s research. But it’s one thing to decide to prioritize our time, and another to actually do it. How do you ensure that you follow through on your New Year’s Resolutions this year? Again, it’s pretty simple, according to Vanderkam.

how to set resolutions you'll actually keep

1. Give Your Future Self a Performance Review

Capitalizing on that reflective tendency brought on by the passage of another year on this planet, we’re tempted to treat the New Year as a time to give ourselves a performance review, like a boss would. And while this is also helpful, says Vanderkam, what if we were to look ahead to the next year, and give ourselves a performance review for the year ahead — before it even happens?

That’s right: Vanderkam wants you to think ahead to the next New Year and congratulate yourself on your future accomplishments. You know those holiday letters? Think about the one you’ll be able to write next year.

“Please, don’t send it,” adds Vanderkam, clarifying with a chuckle. “But you can write it. And now, between the performance review and the family holiday letter, we have a list of six to ten goals we can work on in the next year.”

2. Break Those Goals Down Into Steps

Maybe it’s that you’ve envisioned telling others about your accomplishments, or that you’ve thought more realistically about what you can actually accomplish in the coming year, but Vanderkam’s idea about looking back on your future seems to result in a list of much more attainable goals. The rest should be easy: You just have to make your goals happen in the time you have.

Every goal can be broken down into steps. This is something you’re probably already doing, but consider this a helpful reminder. For example, if you’re going to save money to go on an amazing trip this year, you need to create a budget, cut out some expenses, plan time off, plan the travel, etc. And each week, you need to think about how you’ll fit these steps into your life before you hit the ground running.

How about looking ahead to the next week each Friday afternoon? You’re often tired and aren’t going to spend time actively working on your goals, but you’re willing to think about them. “So take a little bit of time Friday afternoon, and make yourself a three-category priority list: career, relationships, self.” Then, take that list and plug it into your schedule.

3. Actually Take These Steps, One at a Time

Does anyone else do that thing where you make goals, plan the steps, and then try to do them all at once? This last tip isn’t part of Laura Vanderkam’s amazing Ted Talk (which you should absolutely take 12 minutes to listen to or watch), but I thought it worth adding, anyway.

Friendly reminder: you can’t do everything at once. And if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to. Which is extremely overwhelming. It’s hard when you’re ambitious and you want it all; trust me, I get that. But we’re all guilty of planning a post-New Year routine that is so stringent, it doesn’t make it past the third week of January.

So this year, be more realistic. Take each step as it comes, and don’t try to skip ahead. You may find that you even enjoy the process.

Central Europe’s Enchanting Christmas Markets

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go”…

Stalls selling toys, crafts, specialty food and hot beverages are appearing across the globe, but few places have mastered the art quite like central Europe. Germany and its surrounding countries (primarily Austria, northeast France, and Switzerland) are also where this Advent tradition began. During this most magical time of the year, make the holiday spirit your shopping partner by visiting one of these beautiful Christmas markets!

From tens to hundreds of stalls and known by a variety of names, it seems that each village and city in central Europe has its own special Christmas market. A few features to expect at each, however, are the seasonal traditions from mulled wine to roasted chestnuts to sausages and a wide assortment of pastries. Expect lots of beautiful architecture but little to no commercial products since most merchandise is traditional and/or locally made.

Exploring Europe has never been easier, but those who can’t travel abroad have many European-inspired markets across the US. Still, there is nothing like the real thing; so if this year is out, turn on your favorite Christmas classics and begin planning now for 2017!

Nuremberg, Germany

christmas markets

One of the oldest and most popular German markets has been lighting up the Nuremberg Main Market Square since the 1600s. Its sheer size is enough to attract residents and tourists, but visitors return for the unique memories. A local favorite is the Zwetschgenmännle, meaning Prune Men, which are figurines made from real prunes. Meander the stalls while eating a roll filled with spiced Nuremberg sausages, which are small but pack a tasty punch. Also keep an eye out for the event’s very own Christmas angel, the Christkind. Dressed in white and gold, and topped with a gold crown, the Christkind opens the event each year with a speech, then walks through the market taking pictures with visitors a few times every week.

Market: Christkindlesmarkt

Dates: 11/25/2016 – 12/24/2016

Dresden, Germany

christmas markets

Older than the Nuremberg market is the Dresden Striezelmarkt, which dates back to the 1400s. Many of the decorations, scented delicacies, carols, and toys may remind you of other markets, but the Stollen cake (made with dried and/or candied fruit), the multitude of wooden ornaments, and the 14-meter Christmas pyramid are unique to this part of the country. What should you do when it’s time to leave the Striezelmarkt? Why not visit all of the other Christmas markets that also take place in and around Dresden?

Market: Striezelmarkt

Dates: 11/24/2016 – 12/24/2016

Cologne, Germany

In true German fashion, Cologne hosts a few different markets, but two of the most notable are the Cologne Cathedral Market, which enjoys the 768-year-old cathedral as its backdrop, and in Heimat der Heinzel, otherwise known as “House of the Gnomes.” The former may be the most popular market in Cologne, boasting 160 wooden stalls full of eye-catching wares; and the latter market is the largest, complete with an ice skating rink and the chance of seeing the very gnomes that the event is designed around.

Market: Cologne Cathedral Christmas MarketHeimat der Heinzel

Dates: 11/21/2016 – 12/23/2016 for both

Vienna, Austria

christmas markets

Deciding which country celebrates Christmas with more style and spirit is a matter of personal preference, and a lot can be said in favor of Austria. Perhaps it’s due to location, but one of the largest markets sits in front of the capital’s city hall. The Wiener Christkindlmarkt has a lot going on from 150 stalls to the Gothic architecture behind the scenes, as well as an ice rink for skating and curling.

Market: Wiener Christkindlmarkt

Dates: 11/11/2016 – 12/26/2016

Salzburg, Austria

Each market in Salzburg is visit-worthy, but the largest Christkindlmarkt is in front of the city’s cathedral where it has taken place since the 15th century (even before the 17th-century cathedral was built). Visitors are encouraged to mill about and enjoy the lights, stars, songs, and treats; but keep an eye out for the Christmas spirits! If you’ve been naughty this year, beware Krampus who is the yin to St. Nicholas’s yang. Both the Christkind angels and Krampus demons run around the market figuratively rewarding the good or punishing the naughty, respectively.

Market: Salzburg Christkindlmarkt

Dates: 11/17/2016 – 12/26/2016

Montreux, Switzerland

Nestled along Lake Geneva are 160 chalets decorated for the holiday season from late November to Christmas Eve. Singing, music, and laughter fill the air, as does the aroma of steaming and spiced cuisine; but the biggest reasons visitors travel to Montreux is the natural beauty. Here you have the lake and surrounding mountains, the Le Train du Père Noël (Santa’s Train) that travels over 6,500 feet up the mountain to Santa’s house, and a glimpse of the Big Man himself as he travels on his sleigh over the market and lake Geneva.

Market: Marché de Noël

Dates: 11/24/2016 – 12/24/2016

Strasbourg, France

christmas markets

Is it possible that I saved the best for last? I suppose that’s up for debate, but this northeastern city in France (located on the France-Germany border) also enjoys the nickname as “the capital of Christmas.” The Christkindelsmärik (the baby Jesus market) has been returning every year since 1570, making it also the official first in Europe. Set against one of the main squares and the Roman Gothic Strasbourg cathedral, the Christkindelsmärik has an atmosphere all its own complete with traditional takes on holiday favorites and some of the best that the region has to offer. A couple names to know include Kouglof (a sweet brioche bread) and vin chaud (the French version of hot mulled wine).

Market: Christkindelsmärik

Dates: 11/25/2016 – 12/24/2016