"This Year I Will Hit The GYM" And Other Stories...
New Year, New Me... for Real This Time
Growing up, whenever a visitor or relative came to our house from January 1st to the end of the month, my mother would greet them with the customary "Happy New Year." Since old habits die hard and this is the debut article for the year, allow me to extend the same greeting to you—HAPPY NEW YEAR! By the way, we could have a debate about when the year officially ceases to be new. I tend to consider it a happy new year until February 15th, when Valentine's Day officially kicks in. However, if we haven't met since the beginning of the year, even if it’s November, rest assured I'll throw in a random "by the way, happy new year" in our conversation.
Now, back to the main topic at hand. Do you recall those high school days when we'd get that pep talk from a motivational speaker, who would share clichéd stories about going to school without shoes, sleeping on an empty stomach, and the like? I don't know about you, but I would come back to class fully energized, and with a lot of vigor. I'd arrange my locker, make my personal timetable, and stick it on my locker. Yet, the following morning, the motivation would dissipate, and I'd slip back into my old ways. As humans, we are creatures of habit.
This situation is likely familiar to many of you. After the clicks and glamour of the new year, we sit down to make resolutions. We write down promises to ourselves, the same ones we tell ourselves year in and year out. "This year I will hit the gym. This year I am going to read a book. I will stop eating junk food. This year is my year..." And the list goes on.
I distinctly remember last year when I set an ambitious goal to become multilingual., I got the Paris fever and je voulais étudier le français (I wanted to study French). In a burst of enthusiasm, I did the most honorable thing any person would: I downloaded Duolingo, and if that's not enough, I watched those YouTube videos titled "How I learned French in 30 days." After achieving a 61-day streak, the motivation vanished, and... I quit.
If you are always excited to set goals at the beginning of the year, the week, the month, and so on just like yours truly over here, I am obliged to tell you this phenomenon is called “The Fresh Start Effect." Just forget about the technical term. Hold on a little I’ll explain in a few this concept whose origin is as old as time.
"Fresh Start Effect." This effect suggests that the start of a new year, month, or even week serves as a powerful catalyst for change, inspiring us to reflect on our goals, embrace new opportunities, and recommit to our aspirations with renewed determination. Think of it as a psychological reset button—one that allows us to break free from the constraints of past habits and setbacks, and approach our goals with a fresh perspective.
Just like my situation with Duolingo, we all have been victims of the Fresh Start Effect. We have all been guilty of making big plans and commitments (not only at the beginning of the year) and we fail to follow through. Life gets in the way and our words, well, remain just words. The "new year, new me" that we told ourselves turns out to be the chronic procrastinator. And do you know the similarity between you and that politician whom you voted in? You all don't honor your words.
Why is it that many of these resolutions do not last beyond a few weeks or months? Why do 80% of New Year resolutions fail by February, and how can we regain our focus and get back on track? Why do we default to the very goals that we once set for ourselves? I mean, we were not at gunpoint when we were setting them. Are we such Failures?
To tackle this, we need to tap into our ancestry. Did you know? New Year's resolutions have ancient roots tracing back to around 2000 BCE in Babylon. During the Akitu festival, Babylonians pledged promises to their gods often involving commitments like repaying debts and returning borrowed items(just like most of us). Funny, I know. This just comes to emphasize, that you’re not the first to make goals, billions of others have been and are in the same shoes.
If you are a goal-setting enthusiast and maybe you wish to stay on track, I have prepared the following pun-chline guides solely for you! Give them a try and see where they lead you. Who knows!
How can we regain our focus and get back on track?
Harness the fresh start effect (Tunaanza upya!)- if you find yourself demotivated to pursue your goals, start again the next day, the next week, the next month, and if you really wanna push it, the next year. Forget you failed yesterday and know you can do better tomorrow. After all, life is more than just checking off boxes on a to-do list. It's about the adventures, the mishaps, and the unexpected detours along the way.
The photo is self-explanatory Be specific about your goals and understand why they are important. One reason for failure is unrealistic goals. It is crucial to know why your goals are important to you and how achieving them will impact your life. A 2014 study found that 35% of resolutions fail due to unrealistic goals,33% because people don’t track progress, and 23% simply forget about their resolutions. Sometimes, we’re just not ready for change. Readiness for change is crucial. If the goals you set aren’t currently aligned with your current priorities or life stage, it’s tough to stay committed. Your goals might be ahead of their time
Start small: If your goal is to read, start by picking a book and read 10 pages today. Don’t just say it. Remember: A little progress each day adds up to big results. This simple yet profound idea reminds us of the cumulative power of small consistent efforts. It is not about making huge leaps every day but rather the consistent steady pace at which we move forward. You need to make small improvements.
It’s not humanly possible to change everything at once. Take it step by step instead of overwhelming yourself right from the start. Once you start doing something even if it’s baby steps it will be a lot easier to keep going than if you had to do 10 things at once and then just mentally collapse after 3 days of doing it.
Accountability is key. Share your goals with someone whom you trust. Someone who will ask about your progress and not let you off the hook easily. AS Mark Manson advices, in his book "Everything is F*cked," If you struggle with cigarettes and you want to quit Write a check to a close friend or family member for three thousand dollars and tell them that if you ever smoke a cigarette again, they get to cash it. Use technology to track your progress. You can also join a group, e.g., a book club.
Finally, Build it into your routine. Make it as non-negotiable as brushing your teeth. Consistency breeds habit and habit shapes character.
Failing to stick to a resolution doesn’t make you a failure. It’s all about learning and adjusting your approach. As long as you keep getting back up and working towards your goals or just bettering yourself in general you haven’t failed. So, if you struggled in the past, try these strategies and see if they will make a difference. Remember, every action you take no matter how small, is a step towards the right direction. Make each step count.
As usual, live fully and love wholeheartedly. Remember to live is to love, and to love is to live. So:
Live and let live.
Adiós
To all the men in the building, with Valentine's Day around the corner, if you're pondering on the perfect gift for your girl, fear not! The song below has all the answers.
My year starts in February. I think I still have time to hit the gym😂😂😂
My new year's resolution was to be waking up early... atleast by 0550hrs I'm up ... 😂 Well, I think I'll retry with the 5 key rules you've listed...👏🏾