It’s the most wonderful time of the year – but it doesn’t last.
As I write this post, we are one week away from Christmas Day. For many people, this is a
joy-filled time of year. We’re planning to travel to see family, or maybe you’re preparing to
welcome them into your home for fellowship and celebration.
However, it won’t be long before we’re cleaning wrapping paper off the floor, putting leftovers
away, and wondering how long into January we can leave our Christmas lights up before people
silently begin to judge us. Before we know it, the holidays will give way to a new year filled with
opportunity and uncertainty.
For some people, the thought of making plans for a new year and setting goals and resolutions
is exciting. However, I’m finding that more and more people approach this season with a sense
of resignation or resentment. It doesn’t begin this way, but after years of trying – and failing – to
fulfill promises made on or around January 1st, it’s easy to question if it’s even worth it to try and
do anything differently in the New Year.
It doesn’t have to be this way. 2024 can be different. This could be the year that you actually “do
the thing” – and it starts with two simple words: start now.
Start now. Don’t wait until January 1st. Your resolution begins today.
It’s easy to say, but it’s hard to implement because it runs counterintuitive to everything we
believe about New Year’s resolutions. You have a third helping of pie on Christmas Day,
promising to start your diet after the holidays are over. You hit snooze on your alarm clock on
December 31st with full confidence that January 1st will be different and you’ll magically get out
of bed early.
The problem with this approach is that you’re reinforcing the identity associated with the bad
habit that you’re trying to break, and not the good habit that you hope to build. This is the reason
why so many people fail at their New Year’s resolutions. They try to adjust their behavior without
examining the underlying beliefs and identity that impact all their actions – whether they realize it
or not. If you’re going to be a different person in 2024, the work you do must go deeper than
behavior modification.
Does this mean that you have to be hyper-disciplined 365 days a year? Not at all. Consistency
and sustainability will always beat occasional hustle. If one person reads ten pages in one day
and doesn’t read again for another ten days, the person who reads one page a day for ten days
will have still read the same amount – and they will be more likely to continue reading because
they have built a regular, repeatable habit.
Don’t be afraid to start now. This is the perfect opportunity to get ahead and give yourself the
best possible chance of success. You don’t have to climb the entire mountain in one day – but
you can always take the next step forward.
I’ll leave you with one final thought – it’s easier to change directions if you’re already in motion.
Some people will wait to begin because they don’t know exactly what they are targeting or
aiming for. Even if you’re not 100% sure of your destination yet, you’re better off doing
something now than if you were to wait for the “perfect” plan.
