"Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today."
One of my mum's famous sayings - usually in reference to washing the plates or cleaning the living room, in response to my "I'll do it later Mum, can I just relax for a bit?" As much as I hate to admit it, she was always right. I always thought that, that very quote was bad luck, because once she said it, I knew something bad was going to happen in response to my disobedience. For example, I'd say "I'll wash up tomorrow Mum, I've had a long day and I just want to chill." She'd reply with the famous: "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today." And then BOOM! The next day I'll have the flu and be bedridden, thus proving her to be right - and as much as I wouldn't admit it then (in my stubborn state), she was right.
People wait for a new year to start before they try something new so they can say "New year, new me"...Problem - when you wait for that novelty moment, your new venture is based on that novelty moment. So what happens when the novelty wears off and we're in March and no one is talking about new years resolutions anymore.
Make the new year an additional excuse not the main reason for doing something new otherwise it won't last. Imagine someone coming to you in July, taking about making their new year resolutions...past or future - it'd be weird...
Another example which I'm sure we're all familiar with - THE GYM. Working out is always something added to our new year resolution list, which is good - but I always ask. Why are you, on November 17th, telling me that your resolution for the new year is to go to the gym and be healthier - why are you not telling me, on the 17th November, that you are going to the gym this week to begin a healthier lifestyle. I know some people are thinking, "Sacha, what is the difference..." Here it is: According to Forbes, Only 8% of people actually keep their new years resolutions...8% ...8%...
How do you make sure you aren't in the 92%?
Easy...don't put yourself in the 100% in the first place. Start your goals before the new year and they aren't resolutions. If you have an idea, you have something you are looking to achieve or do - why exactly are you waiting for the new year to begin? Just start. In July, when the new year is no longer the new year, your goal subconsciously becomes pointless - "It's not the 'New' year anymore" and the excitement wears off.
Simply put - If you base your goal around the new year, when the year is no longer "New" your goal slowly fades to black, like the screen at the end of a Rom-Com. Instead, set yourself a target, or some small goals and when you reach them, set some more - and before you know it, you'll look back and see a massive difference.
For example...
Weight loss - the biggest resolution of all. Set a goal to lose 4 pounds in a month, then the next month aim for 5, the next month, 4 more and so on...before you know it, you'd have lost 20 pounds in 4 - months...makes sense right?
Maybe I'm waffling, but I've seen better results in my early starts than in my "I'll wait for the new year/New Year Resolutions" starts...so whatever you are planning to do, what ever you need to do, whatever you want to do - do it now. AND...
"Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today."
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