January is well under way, people, and that can only mean one thing: we’ve all broken a few resolutions already. But the great thing is, that’s completely okay.
One of the main reasons why people break their resolutions so soon is the resolutions that they’ve set are very lofty and out of reach. _No more sugar! Lose 20 pounds! Stop procrastinating!_ While none of these goals are implausible or unattainable, they’re not goals to be achieved in a matter of days or even weeks. Change takes time, and you’ve got to be willing to continue trying even if you’ve misstepped in order to truly make progress.
Everyone has been there: It’s Jan. 3 and you really need a cookie. So … you eat one. And then you feel awful and gross and completely discouraged. You maybe even let this slight deterrent steer you away from reaching the bar you set for yourself. You tell yourself that you’ve already broken your resolution, so what’s the point anyway? Obviously, you won’t be able to successfully stick to your promise, so you might as well stop trying now. Or you could just wait until Feb. 1 to try again, because science says we all stick to resolutions better at the start of the month!
Yeah … no.
It’s all in your head. There is no right time to start anything. There will never be a specific day that is more effective than any other. The right time is whenever you decide it is, and it’s okay if that time isn’t right now. What’s not okay is letting one minor indiscretion keep you from achieving your ultimate objective. This can be incredibly detrimental to your self-confidence and sense of worth.
Placing all of your value in your ability to successfully execute goals isn’t just unrealistic; it’s unhealthy. You’re going to be unsuccessful with a good amount of your endeavors. But beating yourself up doesn’t make you succeed; it’s what makes you truly fail.
Change comes from loving yourself and wanting better for your mind, body and soul, not from trying to become a person very different from who you are. Change doesn’t have a beginning or an end; change is so constant that you don’t feel a difference until suddenly there is one. So start today, start tomorrow, start next week. Just **decide to start**.
The best way to build confidence is to **start small**. While your end goal can be as infinite as you choose, the steps leading up to that ultimate goal should be incremental. If you want to lose 10 pounds, don’t begin day one by drastically restricting your diet and exercising for much longer than your body is used to. Instead, make smarter choices with your food and fitness: eat some fruit with your breakfast and take the stairs instead of the elevator. As you successfully complete these simpler tasks and you’re feeling more self-assured, day by day you can increase the intensity of your efforts.
When you do take that first plunge into achieving your goal, **document it**. Begin a journal or a blog, take photos, share your journey on social media. Having physical evidence that you are taking an active role in your life is a huge motivator in your process, especially if you hit a lull and are feeling unexcited about your ambitions.
Most importantly, **keep at it**! It’s okay to fall off the wagon, as long as you don’t let a momentary indiscretion lead to complete surrender. And remember that goals don’t rely on a certain day on the calendar, they rely on you!