Every year, we make resolutions. Resolutions to improve our health, to read more, to socialize more, to get that coveted raise at work, etc. And every year, the majority of people end up slipping back into their old routines by the time February comes around. Why is this?
Change is hard. And what’s even more difficult is when you see yourself slipping back into an old habit. It’s mentally crushing. I realized that in order for me to get over this invisible wall that seems to go up between my resolutions and I each year, I needed a period where I could ease into the change without the mental guilt of slipping up or missing a milestone. So I started to set my resolutions in December instead.
The Benefit
The reality of goals and change is that we don’t really need a specific date to tell us it’s the right time to start. But, oftentimes we need to set a firm date in order for us to truly succeed with our goals. Just doing as some say and starting whenever doesn’t cut it most times. However, if we can establish a system where we work towards these goals, but allow for an adjustment period, we can see an incredible difference in the results.
This particular year my main focus is on my mental and physical health. Due to COVID and my remote job, I’ve let my health get progressively worse from the once super healthy lifestyle that I had. Making this switch after 9 months of quarantine-like conditions is not going to be easy though. By starting on December 1st instead of January 1st, I’m giving myself a full month to ease into a new workout routine that will surely destroy my body physically as well as explore some different meals that I like or don’t like that suit my new diet. If I were to have just jumped right in on the 1st of January, the physical exhaustion combined with the difficulty settling down on a regular meal-plan would have surely been enough to destroy my morale. But, by giving myself a month's buffer, I’m feeling confident once again that I’ll be able to knock my goals and resolutions out of the park.
The Difficulty
Although there are many benefits that come from starting your resolutions in December, there is also a downside. Typically in December, we indulge ourselves with all sorts of leisure and relaxed dieting standards due to the holiday season. This can be a big setback for most people’s resolution plans. The way that I combat this is by simply toning back and being conscious of my goals and what I want to accomplish. I also want to be sure to remind myself that I’m easing myself into these goals, this doesn’t mean I need perfection with them.
My main goal going into each December is to:
- Adjust my body physically to any changes to routine (waking up/sleeping at a new time, workouts, eating habits, writing, reading, etc.)
- Adjust my mind to the removal of certain indulgences (food, sugar, soda, etc.)
- Be relaxed as I start my goals, removing pressure from the strict requirements of them.
In most cases, outside of maybe a meal or celebration, nothing that I do over the break should have that big of interference with my plans on adjusting to my new goals. If you think about what your goals actually are, I highly doubt that you can’t still achieve them through this holiday break. Mentally you may be pleading for the break, but realistically, it’s not that bad.
If you can make it through that difficult holiday period, you’ll come out with the confidence to excel with your resolutions in 2021. If you can restrain your body and mind during the most emotionally and sensationally stimulating time of year, then you can certainly handle your resolutions throughout the entire following year.
If you are like me and struggle to keep your resolutions after a month or two each year, why not just start a month early? Or maybe even a week early? Give yourself the buffer you need to adjust to your new routines and goals so that you enter 2021 feeling confident and content with your resolutions.
