People always wonder why I don’t ever make New Years resolutions, and this is why.
You hear conversations left and right E V E R Y year around this time when people start to decide what they want to accomplish and goals they are setting for the upcoming year. The most common ones are usually some sort of working out and/or weight loss, some sort of eating healthier, and some sort of paying off financial debts. And these are definitely all good things and definitely things everyone should strive for if they have the means to do so. But personally, if you ask me what my New Years resolution is, I'll tell you every year (probably with an accidental and unintentional eye roll) that I don't have one.
Before I get into my reasoning, I want you to do something for me. Actually not for me, for you. Right now, ask yourself what you resolution is, if you have one. Now I want you to ask yourself if it's something you really want. How badly do you want it? Like really, really bad? Something you cannot wait to achieve? Have more than one resolution? Ask yourself that for each one. Got that part done? Cool. Now I want you to be as honest with yourself as possible with this next part. Ask yourself why you're putting it off until January 1 and not just starting today.
I'll wait.
See, I’m probably going to rain on a lot of people's motivational parades with this post, but I'm just going to be blunt (naturally) about my thoughts on these resolutions. I have honestly always felt like New Years resolutions are just another bullshit reason to put something off that you don’t really want to start. And I bet many of you can now see why I feel that way if you were truly honest with yourself with what I asked you in the paragraph above.
Hear me out, though. Yes, it's great to have goals, and yes, it's great to motivate yourself. But why wait till the new year? Like for real, if you want something THAT bad, what are you waiting for? Why wait two more weeks or even longer? Some people literally decide their resolutions in like November. Seriously?! What the fuck good does it do to want to start a goal but then wait weeks to start. All you're really telling yourself is like "yeah can't wait to get this done but brb while I wait a month and a half for January to get here before I start."
Lol I'm sorry, what?! Can you explain that logic to me if it's something you "really" want?
See, part of the problem is there's this whole notion about New Years resolutions and that they can't be started until the first of the year. But the reality is a goal is a goal is a goal. And a goal shouldn't wait till January 1 just because it's been dubbed with the title of being a "resolution." The other problem with that is how so many people can't deal without instant gratification. So then when your resolution isn't met within a few months, you give up on it. Hence why so many gym memberships stop after the first three months of the year. And then what happens? The end of that year rolls around and it becomes your resolution once again for the following year and you're "really gonna do it this time."
K. Yeah no I totally believe you.
Do yourself a favor and stop turning something you really want into a resolution just for the sake of having a resolution. Instead, just make it a goal and start that shit today. Viewing it as a resolution is doing nothing but putting time restraints around yourself when trying to achieve it. If you want to lose weight, then start today. If you want to eat healthier then start with your next meal. Obviously it's hard to get yourself out of financial debt during the holidays, so if you can't put any additional cash towards your debts right now, then make some time for yourself and sit down and write out a plan for getting something paid off.
AND when you start your goals today instead of the beginning of next year, you're already weeks ahead of where you would have been when the new year finally rolls around. And instead of looking at yourself in the mirror like "ok you really need to get started," you'll be looking at yourself in the mirror like "damn, look how much shit you got done!" 🙌
Take me for instance. I have recently been making it a priority to get a better handle on my anxiety. I started this experience four weeks ago and it's been amazing but I'll write a post about that another day. But now I'll be starting the new year in such a better mental state because I made the choice to just get shit started instead of waiting. And right now I can honestly say it's one of the best things I ever did for myself, and I'm so glad I didn't try and wait for the new year because I feel way ahead of the game.
If you have something in mind as a goal you want to achieve AT SOME POINT during the next year, then by all means make it a resolution. More power to you. Because at least you're being honest with yourself that it's something you know you want to achieve but it isn't something you feel the need to immediately start. But it kills me when I see and hear of people wanting all these goals "so bad" but still putting them off until January just because they're being viewed as resolutions. Allow me to be the one to break it to you. [Leans in a little closer, drops voicer to a whisper] You don't want it that bad.
If you want really something, start right now. As soon as you're done reading this post. Or hell don't even finish reading and just go get started! Don't put something on hold just because that's what everyone else is doing. You don't need a date on the calendar to take the first step in achieving your goals. The only thing stopping you is you.
Now go get shit done, you unstoppable force, you.
Cheers,
- The Whiskey Mom
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