The New-ish Year
So here we are; three weeks into the new-ish year. Give or take.
How are you travelling?
Did you make any kind of resolution to do, be, create or change something in 2013?
Have you followed through?
Are you still doing what you said you would?
Are you finding solutions or problems?
Reasons to continue or reasons to throw in the towel?
Will it be different this year or will it be a replay of previous years?
Do you have an accountability system?
Have you identified your non-negotiable behaviours?
Have you thrown your safety net away or is it still close by?
Less Sexy
I guess January 20 doesn’t sound nearly as sexy, exciting or transformational as January 1 does it? Statistically, we know that many people (perhaps most) who started their new ‘thing’ (diet, exercise program, lifestyle change, etc.) on New Year’s Day have already thrown in the proverbial towel.
Just like last year.
We also know that in many cases the excitement has been replaced with indifference, the motivation with de-motivation and the absolute commitment with very-reasonable-sounding excuses.
We’re great rationalisers.
Today’s post is not a criticism or judgment but rather a gentle nudge to remind you that creating lasting change is all about consistency and resilience over the long term, not excitement and motivation over the short term. It also has nothing to do with a date on the calendar or the day of the week.
Pick Up the Ball
So, if you’ve dropped the ball already, simply pick it up. No need to self-loathe, self-awareness is much healthier and much more productive. Re-commit. Re-focus. You’re not weak, you’re human. Not abnormal, normal. Consciously choose to throw away your safety net, lose the excuses, dispense with the short-term motivation and step into the long-term, non-negotiable commitment of your best life.
Life’s not a ten-week program.
Group hug. 
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t start anything on January 1st. And I have given up on Mondays. I had already set today as my starting date. You see I have set myself a goal (walk the Tongariro Crossing on April 30th) and from today I have 100 days to prepare for it.
I’ll let you know how it goes!
For once in my life New Year’s Eve was not held hostage to thinking the day after I have to start on my resolution phase (again!) & had the best night at a friends wedding eating, drinking & dancing. Remembering a post you wrote last year in regards to Joe Cross got me to pluck out the 14th of January to do a 2 week re-boot & early days yet being the half way mark have lost 1.7 kilos which is a positive kick start to the year & if it gives the inspiration to pluck out another 2 weeks into February then great & so on- in the past I would have loathed myself for not doing the full 60 days but feel confident this is the boost I need & the voice in my head coincidentally yours Craig (which does sink in from time to time!) reminded me that random days not specific dates & not beating ones self up about the day to day stuff rather to look & the bigger picture has got my mind in a much better space to see results.
Looking forward to your new book – cheers Kim
Hi Craig!
Still going strong here. I haven’t had any alcohol for about 64 days!!!! That alone has git me off my arse and I am now exercising most days and lifting three days a week. Totally chuffed. Thanks for the reminders.
Thinking about the capability of operating without a safety net (and harness, crash helmet, knee pads…) Not there yet, but thinking about it. ( )
Hi Craig,
My 2013 goal was to be more organized, so that I would be more routine orientated and less forgetful. How am I doing this? What was my plan of attack? Well, it’s like this. I wrote down every possible thing I wanted and needed to achieve in a week (think housework chores, work, exercise, weight training, planning grocery shopping, quality time with the kids and looking after my new horse). I thought about my non negotiable behaviors that I’m not ready to change (for now), and allowed for two nights a week to have a glass of wine or two… You see in the past, where I have gone wrong is that I have gone hell for leather and given up all my vices and been super healthy and excercise obsessed…then found it all too hard and thrown in the towel. This time I have it all written down, times and all. I know it’s a realistic, more balanced approach so I know it’s achievable. I still struggle with my relationship with food. I am trying to make healthier choices ( rye bread over white, etc, eat more fruit/vegies etc) and I am unsure how to tackle that one and beat it… I think it’s going to be a work in progress. All I know is ever since my first weight loss diet, food has become a thought that is constantly on my mind. Im sick of it so I’m trying to shift my focus away from food ATM. Anyway thanks heaps for all your tips…without them I might not have asked myself so many questions or put as much thought into this whole task. The organization, sticking to the routine thing is working well so far xx
Words.if you’ve dropped the ball already, simply pick it up. No need to self-loathe, self-awareness is much healthier and much more productive. Re-commit. Re-focus. You’re not weak, you’re human. Not abnormal, normal. ” thanks for the encouraging words Craig…I know motivation is not the answer to all problems of life, but you surely have filled me with some with these errors
Thanks Craig; not that I need your permission to forgive myself, but along with your reminder of the date, is a good reminder of how we spiral down, by negative self talk. You’re right, as always. Journey, not destination.
Love this! For once I didn’t start a New Years resolution on the 1st of Jan. I’m rather more focused on completing tasks I never finish, this is my goal for my ‘new way of living positively’. Thank u for ur article, it’s great!
this year I didn’t make any resolutions, I set positive goals. I have given away 18.5 kg in the past 8 months and have struggled over the holiday period. I am back at work in a routine
My favourite line “creating lasting change is all about consistency and resilience over the long term”. I was talking to some work colleagues about weight loss all on different diets and one lady piped up its all about consistency which really reasonated with me. When I am organised with food and exercise I have a great week, the week that I am not sure what I am doing and play it by ear I tend to drop the BALL.
Thankyou for your tips and enthusiasm with weightloss. I have lost over 40 kgs and am desperately wanting to loose another 4-5 Kilos before the middle of March when my husband and I will be celebrating 50 years of marriage. Am trying very hard to acheive this. However, at times I find eating ‘something I shouldn’t’ is a concern. When visitors come they are very kind and bring a cake and then I cannot seem to resist it always! Am up at 5.00am nearly every morning exercising for 1 hour and am on the move nearly all day. I have taken the weightloss program very seriously and am looking forward to loosing the last 5 kilos . . . somehow ! !
I feel so set free from the tyranny of January 1st. Instead I’m looking at what I want to achieve for 2013. Its the year of finishing
“unfinished symphonies” including becoming a healthier me. Decluttering my cupboards – I’ve started with the pantry – out with all that stuff which won’t enhance health. Digging out the healthy recipes, the walking shoes and the exercise DVD’s and equipment and putting them to use. Just keeping in mind that the journey of 1,000 miles starts with the first step.
Nope, haven’t dropped the ball coz I didn’t do the new year’s resolution thing. I’m picking up the momentum with goals that were already in place
Weight loss: 8 st 4 lbs to day/52 kgs (in 9 1/2 months)
Active: training for a 5 km event in June. Not working so can’t afford the gym right now. I’m leaving my car at home more often. If less than 1 mile, I walk.
New twist to the weight thing: I’ve been having compression bandage treatment for lymphoedema since November. It isn’t working as well as expected. For a few weeks they’ve been saying something along the lines of “there are two types of lymphoedema and one responds better than the other”. I saw the name of it on my notes about a week ago: lipoedema. I’ve looked it up and been speaking to the nurse about it since. It’s an inherited genetic condition that affects females. It means that the fat cells are unevenly distributed and that the person has chunkier limbs from the waist down. It was discovered in 1940s and not many people know what to look for. As a result, it is usually mistaken for obesity or lymphoedema. If not picked up early, secondary lymphoedema is the result. Very rarely does it affect males. It generally kicks off around puberty but sometimes waits until pregnancy or menopause. No amount of diet and exercise helps to get rid if this type of fat but hard work and effort mean it can be controlled.
I am never going to have that perfect figure. Perfect pear maybe, but not perfect figure. That’s fine. I don’t care. All I am aiming for is happier, healthier and mobile. I am already on track with these things. In fact, I am in a better place than I have been since my very early 20s (I’m 38 now). We’re waiting on specialist advice at the moment. My practice nurse had never heard of lipoedema before the community nurse and “well leg” clinic mentioned it to her. She’d never treated anyone for lymphoedema until I came along. I’m seeing my GP on Friday to Find out what happenes next … Watch this space.
Great reminder Craig. Thanks. Mine are actually going very well. Decided to get a jump start in mid-December. If anyone is interested in more on this topic check out : http://livingatchoice.blogspot.ca/2013/01/keeping-your-resolutions.html