The need to set big resolutions might feel more pressing than ever this New Year, but experts say it's important to take a step back before making any major life changes.
For many, life has been on hold for nearly two years, as Covid-19 restrictions prevented people from making personal and professional plans.
Three-quarters of people around the world feel stuck. A study of over 14,600 workers across 13 countries was published in October.
There are some hopes that the new Covid omicron variant could be a bright one.
This might encourage some to make drastic changes in the New Year in order to make up for lost time.
There is a risk in trying to change our lives quickly, according to a life coach who runs her own practice.
She said you risk trying to do too much and not getting what you pay for.
She said that you are more likely to end up disappointed if you are trying to grab everything.
How do you not feel overwhelmed in the New Year?
She doesn't like setting New Year's resolutions because of the way people approach them. She said that many people take a hopeful approach to achieving resolutions, without actually having a plan and understanding why they set that goal in the first place.
She said that people tend to set too many goals, are not specific enough with their plans, and don't factor in failure when they break their resolutions.
McDermid suggests that you look at the past year and see what went right and what went wrong.
If you decide to go ahead, McDermid said to pick one goal at a time and then break it down into steps. She suggested that if you decide to get a new job, think about how many interviews, job applications and hours you might spend looking at different roles, as doing so can help the brain break down that goal.
A lot of people quit or changed jobs during the Pandemic because they felt restless.
The number of people who quit their jobs in the US in September was the highest on record. The number of job openings grew to over 11 million in October, meaning many people are not returning to the workforce.
More are planning to make the change. A survey of 6,000 people by recruitment firm Randstad found that 25% of U.K. workers are planning to move jobs within the next three to six months.
In light of the uncertainty surrounding the Pandemic, it is important to set life goals that are adjusted for setbacks along the way, according to a life coach and author on a telephone call.
He said that it was important to have self-compassion when goals feel less realistic because of life challenges, such as Covid public health restrictions.
He said that there are times when we are going to make slower progress than we want.
There can be a tendency to rush for results with our goals, as has been seen in diet and gym culture. He argued that it is better to aim for slower progress for many people.
Oliver Jones told CNBC that setting a resolution doesn't usually work if someone is feeling pressured to do so.
He said that it is a tradition, but people find it annoying because they are being pressurized to come up with something.
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