It’s time to give New Year’s resolutions a makeover. Only about 9% are successful, and we think the fact that they’re set on January 1st is partly to blame. Why? Good timing is essential for setting successful goals. Between the hectic holiday season and the grayness of winter, the first day of the year has a lot against it. Here are a few good reasons why September is a much better time to jump-start a new chapter.
1. IT’S A MOMENT OF OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS ON YOURSELF
Summer’s over, the kids are back to school, and chances are you got some rest and relaxation. September is the perfect time to channel that extra energy into yourself and your goals. Especially because the holiday season will soon ramp up and you’ll be focusing more energy on your family and friends.
2. WE’VE BEEN CONDITIONED TO THINK OF SEPTEMBER AS A NEW BEGINNING
All of your years in school taught you to think of September as a fresh start and a time to take on new challenges. Most importantly, you also spent time mentally preparing yourself and gathering the right tools (like school supplies and new clothes). This is essentially the same mindset you want to have when setting a new goal. Ask yourself: where do you want to be this time next year? What changes can you make to your day-to-day routine to help you get there? How can you prepare?
3. YOU’LL MOTIVATE YOURSELF FOR THE RIGHT REASONS
Most of us put on some extra pounds during the holidays. And most of us have vowed to eat better because we feel so guilty for overdoing it. The problem is that puts you in a cycle of overindulging and overcompensating, like saying to yourself, “I have to eat salad this week because I ate a bunch of junk food this weekend”. If you change your outlook, you’ll get further with your goals. Motivate yourself by thinking of the outcome you want: “I’m eating a balanced lunch today because I want to keep up my energy in the afternoon.”
4. YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO CONQUER YOUR GOAL BY NEXT SUMMER
Setting a new goal in September gives you a solid eight months to conquer it by the time June rolls around. That’s plenty of time to make small, gradual changes, which are key to successful goal setting. You’ll even have some extra time built in to allow for hiccups in the road.
5. THE WEATHER’S NICER
It’s still warm enough to take a trip to the farmer’s market and browse the fall selection. And the early mornings are much more friendly to exercising than they are in January. You might be surprised by how much of an impact the weather has on your motivation.
6. YOU’LL BE AHEAD OF THE GAME WHEN THE ACTUAL NEW YEAR HAPPENS
When everyone else is starting their New Year’s resolutions, you’ll be celebrating your progress. Realizing that you’re ahead of the pack might even give you an extra boost of motivation to keep the ball rolling.
Article from The Habit Blog