It’s that time of year again when the New Year’s resolution topic comes up. What can we do better in 2023? How can we improve ourselves? Should I really have a resolution?

I’ve heard a lot of people over the last few years say they are not doing resolutions anymore. Saying it’s a bad tradition. The more I think about it, the more I have mixed feelings on the topic.

I am a person who does not necessarily wait for a new year to think about how I can improve myself. As a bit of an overachiever, assessing and reassessing myself in life at work, at home and personally is a regular occurrence.

However, with a new year, I often reflect on what I am proud of in the previous year and what I think I can continue doing well and improve on in the new 12-month cycle.

For 2023, my goals are a little different than in past years. So often, I set high expectations for how I can do more at work. A big one is always reflecting on what I need to do to be a better parent.

In 2023, one of my goals is centered more on myself. A common statement made to me throughout the years is, “You need to cut yourself a break.” I wouldn’t say that is only in 2022. In fact, I can’t remember a conversation about something I feel I have failed at or not done to my standards in which my parents, husband and other family members have not told me to cut myself a break.

Maybe this can be the year where I take their advice. There were so many things in 2022 that were out of my control, but I still held myself accountable.

As many of my family and friends will say — It could be I hold myself accountable to a fault. Maybe a lot of us do.

As moms, we are hard on ourselves. Our child makes a mistake — we reflect on what we did wrong as a parent. Maybe they just make mistakes, and our job is to teach them past it and not think it’s something I, or we, did.

I will stand up and say I often blame myself and create plans on what to do when my kids do something. Again, in 2023, I will work harder to teach the kids but work to cut myself a break.

In regular life, I hope to cut myself a break and work a little less hard and stay a little less busy and go back to enjoying some of my hobbies in the New Year.

On a personal note, I love crafting. I make T-shirts and signs, and can spend hours creating things to usually give away. In 2022, I can probably count on one hand the number of projects I did because there were so few.

This hobby allows me to shut off my mind and relax. I am an overthinker on every level. In 2023, working to shut my brain off is me trying to better myself.

Do I know if this will work? I do not know, but I know the point of resolutions is to try to do better in an area of our lives that needs improvement. In 2023, I’m sure I am not alone in thinking that being more vigilant and thoughtful to our own personal needs is not a bad place to start in the new year.

Thelma Grimes is the south metro editor for Colorado Community Media.