Wow, I am still in shock that we are already embarking on a new year (insert eyes wide open emoji please)! My sense of time has really been warped since COVID. Anyone else with me?! Nonetheless, this is always a welcome time of year for me as the craziness and busyness of the holidays gives way to a sense of newness and a fresh start.

For some that may mean creating New Year’s resolutions (nearly 40% of Americans actually do this). What and where do you see your life going in 2023? Any goals for yourself personally, financially, professionally? Unfortunately, less than 10% of people will actually reach their goals. Perhaps it’s because as Bill Gates is famously quoted with saying “people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in 10 years.”  Can you relate? I know I can. Here are some tips to help you achieve your New Year’s Resolutions in 2023:

1.  Start small

It’s great to have ‘big picture’ plans but instead of one large goal, set smaller, more attainable goals to have throughout the year. You can always add to this during the year as you cross off your wins!

2.  Make your resolution reasonable

If your goals are unrealistic, you are setting yourself up for failure. This will only lead to disappointment and a sense of failure. Instead, set smaller and more realistic goals and as you achieve wins throughout the year, you can add to them.

3.  Write it down and track it, tell someone about your goals

When you put pen to paper, or verbalize to others what your goals are, you are more likely to achieve them. If it’s all in your head, it’s easy to forget and quit. When your goals are in writing or told to others, it makes them seem more tangible and bound to occur. You also have more accountability when it’s written down and verbalized, rather than a fleeting thought in your head. You can also go back in December 2023 and reflect on how far you’ve come!

4.  Stay positive and remember to look at your gains

You will not achieve your goals everyday all day, we are human and are all bound to slip up here and there. Instead, look at your gains over the year. A great book I just read on this topic is ‘The Gap and The Gain’ by Dan Sullivan. In this book, he discussed how we often times focus on what we need to achieve rather than looking at how far we’ve come. This can lead to disappointment, longing and unhappiness. Whenever you are feeling down or a failure for messing up, remember not to let these slip ups derail your goals. Just reflect on what happened and strive to improve and avoid those mistakes next time. When you sit back and see where you started in January 2023, you will likely surprise yourself on all your successes thus far!

Those are just a few tips for achieving success with goal-making in 2023.

Do you have any specific skin care resolutions this year? If so, write them down and tell friends and family. Just make sure that they are reasonable and attainable in a year. Be sure to get your advice and guidance from real skin experts, aka your trusty board-certified dermatologist, and not necessarily Google or online influencers. (please please pretty please!)

Having personalized, one-on-one care with a dermatologist you trust, is a great start to getting beautiful skin for the long run. They can help address any acute and chronic skin needs you have, and advise you on ways to keep your skin healthy and beautiful for the long-term. Avoid the trap of buying the newest, latest, greatest skin care trend or craze. And avoid the ‘too good to be true’ results. With your skin care, play the long game strategy! And remember, seeing results in your skin from switching up products and routines can take weeks to months, especially for more chronic conditions. Hang in there, your dermatologist has your back (and face, and neck, and you get the picture)!

I can’t wait to see and hear about your skin care goals and journey in 2023!