Don’t get me wrong. New Year’s resolutions can be clarifying, and flipping to a new calendar year can be super motivating. But WHY should we have to wait until the end of the year, when we’re pooped from the holiday season, to start working toward what we want?
Don’t wait until the year’s end to start setting your goals; start now! It gives you time to pivot. Everyone talks about their New Year's resolutions in January, and if you join in on that talk, you might feel compelled to continue with things that simply aren't working for you. Doing it early gives you time to figure out if your goals are what you want to focus on in the coming year. If you want to lose weight in 2022, do you want to pack on the pounds at the end of 2021?
Also, starting your new goals early for next year gives you time to start slowly. The truth is that cold turkey isn't fun or sustainable. You're not a light switch, and you can't simply turn your habits on and off. You need time to slowly ease into your desired changes, which makes starting now a great idea!
It doesn't have to be January 1st to set things in motion. Let's be real: how many years have you made New Year's resolutions on New Year's Day only to have them fizzle out by Valentine's Day? No judgment; we've all been there, but you may want to find a different approach to meet your goals this time. When you start early on your goals for next year, you're getting a head start on results. It's OK if it takes time to get in the swing.
Set aside some time to do some daydreaming and goal planning. What do you want in your life? What would your perfect 2022 look like? From there, set your macro goals. These big goals might take you a year to knock out. Dream as big as you want,
Once you have your macro goals written out, it’s time to start figuring out how you will accomplish them. That means taking your big goals and breaking them down into little, bite-sized pieces.
"Ultimately, there's nothing magical that happens on January 1 at 12:01 a.m.," says psychiatrist and life coach Bergina Isbell, M.D. "You could wake up today and say, 'Enough is enough: I don't want to live like I lived yesterday." If you can get in touch with those personal needs and decide based on them, you'll be ready to shift your mindset and finally crush your goals.