We are now well into February. The excitement around the new year has faded into the normal routine of our daily lives. Our motivation to stick to our new year’s resolutions is quickly diminishing. But why does this happen every year? How does our determination to accomplish our resolutions somehow disappear into thin air?
The reason why our new year’s resolutions often do not end up following through is because we approach them in the wrong way. Most of us write a list of our goals for the new year, whether it is in a notebook or a mental note. However, we do not take the time to think of realistic actions we can take to actually accomplish these goals.
For example, a common new year’s resolution is to get into shape. However, this is where we stop. We only decide that this is our goal without taking it a step further. To come up with a realistic action plan, you have to evaluate how much time you actually are capable of and willing to put into your goal. A realistic action plan for this goal may be working out before dinner on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. For others, a realistic plan may be to start working out just once a week. The most important thing is consistency when it comes to accomplishing our goals.
The New Year is often seen as a new start. A time to transform ourselves. However, before setting any goals, it is important that you remind yourself that you are already enough as you are. The new year is an exciting time and a great opportunity to think about what we hope to accomplish in the future. You should not feel pressure to start new goals as soon as the new year starts. We can start anew and set goals whenever we feel inspired to.