Goal setters in the north offer tips on how to keep New Year's resolutions
One northern Ontario business owner, Sylvie Lamothe is on what she calls a 'worcation' in Sayulita, Mexico. It was a goal she set a year ago.
"And when September hit and I was looking at December I was just like there’s a three week break where all the work I’m doing is on my computer so I could do it from anywhere," said Lamothe, who is the owner of Rebel Soul in Timmins.
Lamothe told CTV News she is a big believer in writing down what she wants to achieve, like working outside of Canada if she so desires and bringing people together to practice yoga.
“I did my yoga teacher training five years ago,” she said.
“Ever since then I’ve been writing ‘yoga retreat’ in my journal, not knowing when it would happen; how it would happen, and now May 2023, I’m now hosting that yoga retreat."
Jeff Baldock, a psychotherapist in northern Ontario, said something happens to our brains when we write down what we resolve to do.
“It raises dopamine and serotonin levels by simply saying this is the target that we’re going for; it’s also very helpful by the way, to take some time to visualize that,” said Baldock, who is the owner of Framework Counselling Services in Timmins.
According to Time2Play, an online gambling website that conducted a survey of 1,000 Canadians, found that 62% of the respondents felt it was beneficial to make a New Year's resolution, but most of them lost motivation to follow it.
Baldock told CTV News one easier way to honour a resolution is to outline a break down for yourself of how you want to go about achieving it.
“We can set a big long goal for ourselves and taking each step in such a way that it’s reasonable, it’s realistic," he said.
Baldock added you'll be able to enjoy life much more this way and others will notice that too.
Additionally, Lamothe said, if you get off track, try not to get disappointed.
“Look at all the days I did do it, today’s ok to take a day off,” he said. “You know give yourself that grace to show up as a human, you are a human being, you will have bad days.”
Baldock says a friend of his, who was an athlete and an excellent business woman, had said one time; “Give ourselves twenty-four hours to bleed.”
The survey by Time2Play, also revealed that people in Newfoundland and Labrador are the most committed at keeping their New Year's resolutions and claimed to do so for six months.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Poilievre kicked out of Commons after calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko'
Testy exchanges between the prime minister and his chief opponent ended with the Opposition leader and one of his MPs being ejected from the House of Commons on Tuesday -- and the rest of Conservative caucus walking out of the chamber in protest.
Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
Sword-wielding man attacks passersby in London, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring 4 others
A man wielding a sword attacked members of the public and police officers in a northeast London suburb Tuesday, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring four other people, British authorities said.
Conservatives push motion calling for Carney to testify, say it's about 'accountability'
The federal Conservatives made good on their promise to push for former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney to testify before MPs, resulting in a heated political debate in Ottawa on Tuesday.
Freeland previews omnibus budget bill, proposed capital gains tax change left out
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
London Drugs stores remain closed, 'cybersecurity incident' may have breached personal data
London Drugs says it is working with third-party security experts as the company tries to reopen dozens of stores across Western Canada that were shuttered by a cybersecurity incident Sunday.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
WATCH Arnold Schwarzenegger spotted filming in Elora, Ont.
The name of the project has not been officially released although it’s widely believed to be the Netflix series FUBAR.