Your 2024 Goals Losing Steam Already?
At the start of every new year, there’s tons of excitement around resolutions and aspirations for the new year. The most common one is joining the gym to get your body ready for the summer, because new year, new you, right?
The problem is that a lot of these resolutions are fueled by motivation, which works like a battery. Eventually, you’ll run out of it, and the goals tied to that motivating energy die alongside it. That’s why 80% of the people who join gyms in January quit within the first five months. Your foundation is flaky, but a change in perspective can help you see your goals all the way through in 2024.
Build Routines, Not Goals
It’s nice to think about the end product, what you imagine the other side of the mountain looks like. And because your motivation is high during the honeymoon stage, you’re willing to endure any hardships that come with pursuing that goal. The thing is, as time passes, you begin to realize that this thing’s gonna take longer than you thought, and you’re not as excited about doing it as you were at the beginning, which causes you to take a break...for the rest of the year.
The trick is to focus on the actual routine you’ll be doing every day, week, or month and make sure it’s reasonable for you to do for the long run. Don’t try to talk yourself into working out 5 times a week when you know your schedule’s too busy for that. Be honest with yourself and go with a plan that you can actually stick to. Focusing on the routine ensures that you don’t suffer from burnout and lessens the stress on a specific goal, you’ll likely reach it and pass it over time. These small changes are what allow us to crush the big goals in the future, so pay attention to detail.
Take Your Time
I know you wanted to be rich by February, shredded by March, and Vacationing by April, but everyone can’t be perfect (sucks, I know). Your resolutions are a marathon, not a sprint, and progress is often slow and steady. Don’t get caught up in comparing your progress to others or trying to fit your growth into a predetermined timeline. You’re responsible for running your race, that’s it. No one else matters, this is your journey and you set the pace. At the end of the day, this is all for one person.
You.
Remember Your Why
What were your intentions when you decided on your goals? Are they the same now as they were then? These are important questions to be asking yourself if you’re struggling with a particular habit. In The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, he states “The reality is when our emotions want us to do something, we just do it”. The friction comes from you, and the reason why is what you need to address.