Has Your New Year’s Mindset Become Toxic?

Here’s what to do about it.

There is so much hype surrounding New Year’s — too much.

Everyone makes resolutions to better themselves in the coming year. Don’t get me wrong, having a growth mindset is the key to success!

But why does everyone wait for the new year to come to make a change?

Why not see every new month, week, and day as an opportunity to better yourself?

Why not go to bed every night and plan healthy habits for the coming day? Why not reflect on the past week and resolve to be better in the next? Why wait for an entire year to pass before creating a better life?

I have fallen into the trap of thinking if I fail my resolutions, I lose my chance and have to wait until next year. If this sounds like you, it is a sign that your New Year’s mindset is toxic!

Don’t wait until next year because the year-end is not the best time to set goals…

And here’s why the holiday season sets you up for disaster.

Yes, the holidays are a time of getting together with family and having fun, but they’re also a time of unintentional overeating and weight gain.

Think about it: all those drinks, pies, feasts, appetizers, snacks, etc.; the list goes on. Even after the holidays, there are plenty of leftovers to go around for days.

So, you already have a setback if you want to become active or lose weight.

Even if your goals are not health-centered, the stress alone is enough to leave you drained. How can you expect to have enough energy to follow through with your goals?

Additionally, New Year’s goals are often too broad to maintain long-term.

They sound like: “I want to eat better,” “I want to get in shape,” or “I’m going to get on top of my finances this year.”

But with no definite plan in mind, these resolutions quickly fade. There’s also often no “why” driving you to succeed.

So, what is a better plan?

Instead of broad goals for a whole year, set specific goals for a week — a day, even. I always emphasize the importance of taking things slowly at first, and this is no exception!

But also have an end goal in mind. This keeps you focused on what you want while giving you time to achieve it.

If you want to get in shape, try things like staying hydrated and working out 2–3 times a week. Then slowly build up to 4, 5, or 6 times weekly.

If your goal is to take control of your finances, save a small portion of your paycheck. Small amounts add up over time!

Takeaways.

It may be hard to view every new month, week, and day as an opportunity to do better than yesterday. Society has done a great job of telling us otherwise.

But even if it’s an unpopular opinion, long-term goals are not achievable without specific, short-term goals driven by a “why.” This perfectly explains why so many fail at their New Year’s resolutions.

My point is today is a new day — put yesterday behind you and make the most of it.

Thank you for your time! If you enjoyed this article, don’t forget to hit the follow button and never miss an opportunity to fill your life with positivity & purpose! ♡