Millions of people will make a new year resolution right before the new year starts. Most New Year’s resolutions involve starting or stopping something. Most will fail. I am not quoting any research on this; it has been my experience. This is because the starting point is wrong. Most times, these New Year resolutions come from a place where we say to ourselves:
‘I’ve been bad on X thing, and I’ll continue to be bad till the end of the year, but I will change everything when the clock turns to January 1, 202X.’
Giving yourself a free pass till the end of the year with the hope that everything will change just because the clock will turn to January 1st is a temporary good feeling with an expiration date.
The intention is right, though; the notion of a New Year resolution has to do with change. And the intention matters. It means that one wants to be a better version of themselves. It’s the first step to getting there. The next step is three magical words I have learnt to cherish with every bad habit I have stopped and every good habit I have started: Build Good Habits. That is my motto nowadays in anything I do in my private or professional life. I care about a goal, but don’t stress about getting there. I might not get there at all, which is ok, as I will have gotten where I can. I will have become a better version of myself.
The great thing about building good habits is that you don’t need the clock to turn to January 1st. You can start today, tomorrow, next week or next month. It is your choice.
