Why Waiting for the New Year Won’t Work
How well did you do meeting your goals for 2022? Did you stick to your resolutions? Did you make it past January? For most, it’s probably NO. This isn’t pointing fingers, this is just the reality of what all of us do when we want to make a change in our lives. We like clean slates, it feels nice to unload the baggage of last year after the ball drops…until we realize we’re still stuck with the same road blocks or habits that got us here in the first place. If you want change for 2023 you need to start NOW. Let's talk about how you can make real changes in your life; not just in running or fitness, but in anything you want to improve.
So why exactly do we wait for the New Year? Or start of the month, week, or day to make changes? Because we like to practice something called “the Fresh Start Effect.” This concept simply means we like to, well…start fresh; free of connections from our past self. To our present self, that version was a failure and needed to go so our future (better) self is all that’s left. The problem is what we might point to as an arbitrary starting point for the “first day of the rest of our lives” is just that…an arbitrary line we call tomorrow. Roadblocks of yesterday are still around no matter lines we set.
In order for you to truly reach your goals you need to change how you set them and what success means. Setting realistic expectations with incremental steps builds a template for consistency, progress, and sustained growth.
1) Don’t wait, start now:
Why put things off for tomorrow that you can start today? That starting line for whatever change or new habit you want to make needs to begins with actionable steps here and now. Figure out the path to get where or what you want, then start. It’s that simple.
2) Start small:
Once you understand what steps you need to take…start stepping…or walking…heck, crawl if you have to; but take those steps. You won’t change over night, accept that. You need to consistently make small changes that chip away to big one’s.
3) Anticipate Set Backs and Plan ahead:
You’re going to mess up, have a set back, miss a day of training. We’re human and no one’s perfect. What’s important is that we get right back up keep going. Don’t quit, then you’ll fail.
4) Find your why:
If you’re having trouble staying disciplined or slipping back into past bad habits, go back to why you’re doing it. “You” wanted to make this change or take on this challenge so only “you” can answer that questions.
5) Forget about motivation, stay disciplined:
Motivation is a fleeting feeling, discipline is free of emotion. It’s consistent day in and out, rain or shine, happy or sad. Stick to it and you’ll find you have plenty of motivation when you need it.
Coach D
