New Year’s Resolutions: doomed to fail?

Many people promise themselves on New Year’s Eve to do better. They say, “New year, new me.” Unfortunately, that new version of themselves lasts for about three weeks before they fall right back into old habits.

According to a 2020 Forbes article by Mark Murphy, many people don’t care too much about their New Year’s Resolutions. If you don’t have an emotional connection to what you are trying to accomplish, you have no reason to stick to your resolution. 

Another reason many people abandon their resolutions is because they have no idea how to actually make those resolutions happen. Someone may want with all of their heart and soul to gain weight and be able to bench press 200lbs, but if they don’t have a plan, they will never be able to reach that goal. 

The first day of the year seems like the perfect time to try something new, so it must be worth waiting for, right? Wrong. Waiting on the perfect day to start making your life better is simply procrastination. Why not start tomorrow? Why not start today?

In short, while most New Year’s Resolutions are unsuccessful, they are not doomed to failure. Making your life better starts with you. You are the one in control of your well-being. You are the one in charge of taking care of yourself. It’s all on you. 

When making a change in your lifestyle, whether it’s big or small, you need to have a plan. It’s impossible to succeed when you’re flying blind. Your plan could be simple or detailed, short-term or long-term, span a couple weeks or even a few years. It’s up to you and what you need. 

After you have your plan, you need to figure out why you want to change. Is it because of a person in your life? Do you want to change for your own health and well-being? Once you know the reason behind your change, use it to push your plan into motion. 

There are no good reasons as to why you should wait before starting to change your life for the better. If it’s something you really want, something you need to do, start now. The sooner you start, the better off you’ll be in the end. If you’re trying to break the habit of procrastinating, this will be especially helpful. 

Once you’ve made a plan, found your motivation, and begun to set your plan into action, it’s time for the hard part: sticking with it. The first day is easy. The second and third days are always the most difficult. You’ve started something new and you need to keep with it. While it may not be easy, it’ll be worth it in the end. 

Don’t wait until January 1st to start working towards a “new you”. Start working towards it today: do some research, make a plan, find your motivation, and get going. Any day can make a fantastic day one of a better life.