Why ‘New Year, New You’ Needs To GTFO
With music, glitter, and far too much Champagne, it’s hard not to be swept away by the optimism that a new year brings. It’s like, with the snap of your fingers, or the drop of a giant ball, suddenly you can wake up at 5:00 a.m. to go to the gym and undo the damage from the holidays. You can stick to a better budget, start sending out your resume, and finally, you can leave that relationship where it belongs — in the last decade!
That is, of course, until January 2 rolls around.
Listen, we’ve all been there. Whether you spend too much on groceries or cut corners on your new workout routine, sometimes “New Year's resolutions” don’t make it past taking down the holiday decorations. And while you could beat yourself up over “failing” on your new goals, the truth is, millions of people succumb to the pitfall of thinking that a new year will suddenly bring major life changes.
At the stroke of midnight on December 31, you don’t suddenly get a blank slate. You don’t get to magically rectify all the mistakes you’ve made in the past 12 months. Heck, you don’t even get a headstart on your goals for the new year.
What you get is a wave of hope and motivation that this year will be different. And I’m going to help you ride that wave through the next 12 months, and beyond.
Get Clear About What You Want
Daydreaming is great. Yet, when it comes to actually conquering all your hopes and dreams — you need to come back to reality. Be super specific in your goals for the upcoming year. Don’t just say, “I want a new job,” specify your vision for the role, title, salary, and company culture.
Being specific with your dreams gives you a guideline to follow and keeps you from settling for less than you deserve. Create clear end goals, so you can align your daily actions to those goals. Think big, and then break it all down.
Be Intentional
While knowing what you want is a good start, knowing why you want it can help you devise your action plan. Be honest with yourself. Think about the behavior patterns that prevent you from reaching your goals. Are you a procrastinator? Are you so scared to fail that you don’t even try? Do you take on too much at once?
For each behavior you want to modify, think about a better habit you could start to implement.
Maybe you make a small To-Do list and set small goals with checkpoints for yourself. Maybe you talk to friends and family to get some extra emotional support. Maybe you practice saying, “No.”
Changing everything all at once isn’t sustainable or even possible. Try implementing small changes, and daily behavior modifications that are going to help keep you feeling empowered and motivated. Sometimes the smallest changes give you the biggest results.
Measurable Milestones
Most goals don’t immediately have noticeable results. Rather than waiting for a giant reveal or kicking yourself for not suddenly changing everything in your life — break down your goals into small checkpoints along the way. Creating small, achievable milestones, helps you stay motivated and on track as you reach your goals.
When creating your goals, do so in this order:
Annually
Quarterly
Monthly
Weekly
Daily
Having everything from daily to annual milestones helps ensure that you remain intentional about the actions that you’re taking and keeps you accountable to yourself. Make sure that you have a way to measure your progress that’s not based on how you feel. This is going to help your progress feel more tangible when you’re losing steam. When you veer off-course (which will happen), your milestones will help guide you back to where you need to be. Don’t aim for perfection, work towards progress.
Support
Things always work out better when you have support. Outsource some of your tasks, delegate where you can, let people know when there’s too much on your plate. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of leadership.
Additionally, having emotional or social support can be a total game-changer. Ask your friends and family to help. Talk about goals. Allow yourself to be excited. You don’t need to do everything yourself.
Remember This:
As the holiday season comes to a close, you’re gearing up to take control of your life. (Hell yes you are!) While thinking big is good for some initial brainstorming — clarity is key. Be specific about your goals and how you’re going to reach them. Focus on your progress. You don’t need to be perfect, you don’t need to know all the answers. You’re going to have setbacks and veer off course. It’s OK. Celebrate your small victories and take small steps along the way. And as always, ask for help or support when you need it. You’re not alone in reaching your goals, and I’ll be here to help you all year long.
