‘Tis the time of new beginnings and New Year’s fertility resolutions. If you are struggling to conceive, the days after Christmas are an opportunity to reset. You might be surprised how much making resolutions at the start of the year can help you on your fertility journey! New Year resolutions done well can help you overcome your obstacles and clear a path towards your dream of having a baby or expanding your family.
Do New Year’s Resolutions Stick?
The truth is that many New Year’s resolutions will be completely forgotten by February. However, all is not lost. Research shows that people actually keep going with 40% of their New Year’s Resolutions. That’s not bad at all! So, if you want to beat infertility, read on to find out how to succeed with your 2022 New Year’s resolutions.
A word of warning — Be ready for some hard work! This is unlikely to be an easy journey.
New Year’s Fertility Resolutions are Powerful Tools
Resolutions are not the same as goals.
Goals are well-defined and have a clear timeframe. They are good for work projects and sales targets. They are not good for infertility. In fact I would say they are dangerous for infertility patients.
For example, promising yourself that you will be pregnant by July 1st 2022 is a huge goal. The problem is, it’s not necessarily attainable or realistic. It puts a huge burden on your shoulders. Your fertility doctor will warn you that it is not a good idea to set goals that you have absolutely no control over. And failing to achieve this goal will leave you depressed and likely to give up altogether.
The No.1 Reason Infertility Patients Don’t Have a Baby?
Resolutions are better than goals. Instead of the huge burden of an unrealistic goal, set yourself realistic resolutions instead. Realistic New Year’s fertility resolutions are more likely to keep you travelling on your infertility journey. The simple truth is that those patients who just keep going are the ones who are more likely to have a family. And always remember, there are many ways to have your family! The first treatment option may not work out, but that’s not the end: There is a way for everyone to have a family!
Making Your 2022 New Year’s Fertility Resolutions Work
Resolutions are a declaration, a commitment that we make to ourselves. You know yourself better than anyone else. So, for 2022 begin by taking a long hard look at yourself – warts and all. What New Year’s resolutions are going to help you navigate your infertility journey? (link to fertility in the new year – new year resolutions)
The 5 P’s to Stick to Your New Year’s Fertility Resolutions
To be successful, New Year’s Resolutions require you to commit to the five P’s: Planning, Persistence, Patience, Partnerships and Positivity.
Planning
Your fertility journey has a destination. You are going to create your family. To arrive at your destination (and to avoid regrets!) Planning is essential.
Persistence
Persistence is what keeps you following the plan.
Patience
Patience is what will guide you back onto the path when you skid off at times or feel like just sitting down and giving up.
Partnerships
The fourth and fifth Ps are just as important and often forgotten or overlooked. You need to welcome and open yourself up to Partnership. Your fertility journey will require many partnerships.
If you have a partner with whom you are journeying, you will need to have good listening skills, maintain strong bonds and have a clear agreement of where you are going and how you will get there together.
If you are single on this journey, you will need to nurture strong partnerships with select friends and family who will provide your essential support.
You also need to form open and trusting partnerships with the organisations and providers of the services you’ll be accessing. The people and groups you’ll meet along your journey may include support groups, therapists and counsellors, fertility doctors and nurses, financial advisors, and agencies such as sperm, egg and embryo donor providers.
The Final and Most Important P is Positivity!
There are times in everyone’s infertility journey when they hit rock bottom. Or at least it feels that way. Before you hit that spot, make sure that you have dropped a little positivity dust into that dark hole that we all know how to find and fall into.
When you are in that dark space, scrape around the floor and find your positivity dust. That brief sparkle will remind you that you’ve told yourself to always hold on to a spark of positivity. There is always hope. There are people who care and want to support you through this dark time. You are not alone.
Use your five P’s and reach out to one of your Partners. Tell them truthfully what you are going through. The old saying is true: A problem shared is always a problem halved.
Make Resolution Your Friend for 2022!
Embrace your 2022 New Year’s fertility resolutions. Look deep inside yourself and commit to resolutions that will make your fertility journey a success. You can get there, just keep the faith!