January 1st, 2021.
You may have planned for this to mark the beginning of a major lifestyle overhaul, where you eliminate all processed foods from your diet, get at least 8 hours of sleep per night, exercise every day, and have a variety of resources to manage stress.
Having goals is fantastic, and we all look to the beginning of the year as a time to take action. “New year, new me”, right?
Let’s celebrate that energy. Let’s celebrate the desire to change, improve, or get better.
Let’s also celebrate that the vast majority of us – myself included – overestimate how quickly we’ll reach our goals while simultaneously underestimating how much work we’ll have to do to get there.
Wanting to make a change is the easy part. Consistently taking steps that lead to change, that’s the hard part.
Most of us are intrigued by a jump start, a quick fix, something that may work for short periods of time but isn’t designed for the long haul. It’s not designed for what’s next.
Continued success is all about creating habits that are sustainable for months or years or even decades.
So, what’s next? It’s up to you! Here’s a guideline inspired by my friend @dtbaze:
“If you can’t see yourself doing the same thing a year from now, you need to find a better way.”
Celebrate what you did well today, and plan to do it again tomorrow. Happy New Year!