Many people are talking about their New Year’s Resolutions, and most will start workout plans, dieting, personal development goals, and so on. Then, these brave souls will quit later on in the year; they will lose motivation and resort back to their comfort zones.
According to Pew Research center, the most favorite New Year’s Resolution is weight loss, followed by 12 percent focusing on spending less money or saving more, 12 percent wanting to be a better person, and another 12 percent wanting to exercise more.
Moreover, approximately 8 percent of those polled in the Pew Research center want to quit smoking, eat better and take steps to improve their overall health.
The New Year’s Resolution is a promise to do something different in the New Year.
For example, it’s the promise to lose weight, eat better, focus on good habits (e.g., save money/spend less), etc.…
Most people do not make new year’s resolutions because of other reasons. Essentially, they see life as day-to-day, week to week, month to month, the yearly process of eating right, exercising, saving and investing money, learning more (educating yourself on different subjects), and overall living a better life.
However, there is nothing wrong with subscribing to the New Year’s Resolution.
Day to Day process
Every day is a gift in which individuals can try to live their lives to the fullest, where they try to laugh, love, care for, exercise, eat right, and live a fulfilled life daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly.
Tomorrow is not promised; and of course, there are those days that the cheesecake, brownies, and pizza will get pass security.
However, you can quickly get back on the path to pushing yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually.
For instance, this morning, I went for a run in the 39-degree weather, where the cold air caused my bones to ache and my chest and lungs to push a little harder.
That run was a choice. Yet, its important that you see physical fitness as a lifestyle.
Where the individual sees themselves running the miles, doing the push ups, and walking in the park; basically, moving the body when the mind says NO this doesn’t feel right.
Because the brain is designed to protect us and keep us safe.
Many people who know me will say I enjoy/love physical fitness. However, most days, I struggle with running, doing pushups, or getting up and out of a warm bed, and running in the cold.
The only way to get better (that is, being a better person overall) is by doing the things we do not want to do.
Nevertheless, some people lose focus on their New Year Resolutions because they are looking for some motivation or some feeling of excitement.
Yet, this is the wrong way to fulfill that goal of losing weight, eating right, saving money, and overall better habits.
According to research on goal setting, the individual must recognize that motivation doesn’t have to mean there is some particular feeling, like excitement or anticipation. Instead, individuals need enough reasons to move forward in their goals.
You can decide to do something without ever getting excited about that personal goal by finding out your personally meaningful why.
Why are you wanting to lose weight? Why are you wanting to eat right? Why are you wanting to save/invest money? Why are you wanting to quit smoking? Why are you wanting to put so much into that relationship? Why are you wanting to spend more time with loved ones?
If you have enough reasons, you can accomplish almost any/everything.
One of my favorite quotes is from Jim Rohn (author and motivational speaker), “reasons come first, answers second,” likewise “if you have enough reasons, you can do the most incredible things.”
Daily Tasks (small win)
Overall, focus your efforts on daily tasks (small wins that lead to better outcomes). Those daily habits will lead to the victory in achieving the goals of losing weight, spending less money, stopping those bad habits, and so on.
People who achieve their daily goals (or accomplish those daily tasks) successfully achieve their goals. You didn’t gain that weight overnight, essentially, it was a daily process that turned into you being overweight.
In the end, forget about the New Year’s Resolution.
Instead, work on daily goals, which lead to more extensive weekly, monthly goals, and overall yearly goals.
Accomplishing our goals is set in our daily habits, putting in the work each and every day. Will you feel like working out; NO, but focusing on those reasons will benefit you in the long run.
Stay focused and keep moving.