Having experienced years of failed New Year's resolutions, I decided last year that there must be a better way to set myself up for success! For me, that didn't mean giving up on the idea altogether. I love the last week of the year as a time of reflection - thinking about what went well and not so well, looking at my life across the main areas of health, family, friends, finances, and hobbies. It's a time for deciding what to keep going with, what needs tweaking, what needs a complete overhaul, and what needs to go in the bin! There's a feeling of excitement and hope as the new year approaches, with vivid images of how the coming year will look for me and my family.
And then, without fail, I wake up on New Year's Day battling between the promise of a fresh start and the daunting task of implementing all the resolutions I've beautifully listed in my new journal. Shouldn't I be excited to crack on? The reality is that I often end up having an internal debate about the pros and cons of New Year's resolutions and suddenly questioning how sensible they actually are!
Where does this conflict come from? Why is it so hard to stick to these little promises to ourselves? Statistics show the success rate of carrying out New Year's resolutions is just 8%! Various studies blame it on things like overly ambitious goals, lack of willpower, and the difficulty of changing habits.
But my latest theory is that it's all about timing. January 1st - many of us aren't working, we're on holiday and out of routine. We're enjoying our precious time off, and the thought of not savoring every minute seems crazy! Who really wants to go for a run on January 1st, unless you're already a runner? The same can be said about fasting, detoxing, finding solitude, or practicing self-care - these are all really challenging things to achieve when you're surrounded by family and friends, out of routine, and enjoying festive food and drinks (as we should!). We need time to rest, time to play, time to indulge and just enjoy ourselves! And so by midday, my New Year's resolutions are typically out the door.
However, that night when I'm reflecting on the day, I end up berating myself for not being able to stick to anything and feeling like the year hasn't started the "right" way. Read: FAILED. And we're only a day in! You can see how this becomes an emotional see-saw that really doesn't help us feel great about ourselves.
And so, I thought... Why do New Year's resolutions need to start on January 1st? What's wrong with January 5th, 10th, or even February 1st? They're still New Year's resolutions! With this thinking, we can plan to start when it fits with our own schedule. Maybe you only need a couple of days of relaxation before you're ready to crack on, maybe you want to wait until you're home from holiday, unpacked and feeling ready for your routine, or maybe it's better to start when the kids are back at school?
I believe this approach sets us up to succeed. One of my favourite sayings - "in your own time" - rings true here. So find the time that works for you, get organized, prepare outside of the chaos of Christmas and New Year celebrations, and then start... in your own time!
Today is January 8th - I started two days ago. Back from a beach holiday, ready for some routine and in the comfort of home. 10,000 steps a day, starting a yoga practice (again), and putting my health first this year by scheduling all those appointments that I've been putting off.
Happy New Year everyone!
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