Christmas is this weekend, and then the following Sunday is New Year’s. Have you already found your word of the year for 2017? What about starting to think of resolutions?
What if I told you that most people don’t follow through with their New Year’s Resolutions past March? Think about one of the most common resolutions: lose weight and get healthier. January is one of the busiest months for gyms…but then, February is one of the slowest.
Why does it seem that we always put ourselves in this endless cycle of failing resolutions each year? Yes, the New Year has the feeling and look of a clean slate, a perfect time for New Beginnings, New You, etc. But, in reality, it’s putting way to much undue stress and pressure on you!
Instead, don’t wait for New Year’s to begin your resolutions. Start today!
“Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” – Benjamin Franklin
New Year’s is the perfect time to start resolutions, everyone thinks. Just like Mondays (although hated as they are) are the perfect time to begin a new habit. But, then what happens if you are sick during New Year’s? What if Monday turns out to be a very bad or busy day? Will you wait until the next New Year? The first of the next month? The beginning of next week? It’s just an excuse to delay and put off. Start now. Every day is a new day.
The Right Time is Anytime
You can change anytime. There is no rule on starting. There is no perfect time to begin. Well, yes there is. Now. Now is the best time to change. Every day is a new day. Start your resolutions now. If you fail today, start again fresh tomorrow! Don’t be chained to the New Year. Every day you can become a New You!
Start Early and Ease In
Typically, when you start resolutions on New Years, you go head first, you dive in, you stop cold turkey. That is too much expectation in too short of a time. There is a pressure to begin perfect and stay perfect. That is one of the biggest reasons people fail. Start now, before Christmas, and give yourself time to ease in. There is less pressure on you to be perfect. Try one resolution at a time. Maybe even consider focusing on one resolution at a time, or having monthly goals rather than year-long goals. By starting a few weeks before New Year’s it also gives you time to tweak your resolutions and goals and see what works or doesn’t work for you at the busiest and most stressful time of the year to help you be more successful during the rest of the year.
Create S.M.A.R.T. goals
Forget the word resolution. Think of the word goal. Resolution is a determination. But, GOAL is something achievable, something tangible. So, create SMART goals.
S–specific: be specific in your goals. Don’t just say, “lose weight.” How much weight do you want to lose?
M–measurable: make sure you can measure it. Don’t just say, “be healthier”. Say, “drink 60 oz of water every day and go to the gym 3 times a week.”
A–agreed upon: make sure you are happy with your goal. Does it inspire you? Do you have an accountability partner?
R–realistic: be realistic in your goal setting. You know what you are capable of. Make sure you can actually reach and accomplish your goal!
T–time-based: give yourself a deadline. With deadlines, you are more likely to focus on your goals and achieve them.
So, don’t wait for 10 more days. Start now. Even if you don’t want to, and you want to wait until the New Years, it’s ok to start (or start over) on the 2nd, 3rd, 10th, anytime.
You CAN do it. You CAN achieve. You CAN succeed!
