I get it. You want to start a new year with a clean slate, full of great intentions and good intentions. I want that too! But when it comes down to it, waiting until January 1st to set your goals is just an arbitrary date in the calendar—it doesn't magically transform you into someone capable of achieving all their dreams overnight. In fact, setting goals at the beginning of the year can be detrimental if they're not really what you want for yourself or don't align with who you truly are.
So before we get into how to set effective resolutions for success this coming year, let's talk about why waiting until after December 31st might not be the best idea:
You don't have to wait until the calendar turns to a new year to set goals for yourself.
You don't have to wait until the calendar turns to a new year to set goals for yourself. You can start right now with the help of friends or family members and not feel pressured into starting a new goal on January 1st.
You can also set a goal for yourself, or ask someone else to help you set a goal. If you're already in school, then your teachers are always open to discussing goals with their students. They'll be able to help you figure out what kind of career path is best suited for your interests and abilities!
It's important to practice self-care and reflect on how you want to improve yourself for yourself
One of the most important things to remember when it comes to setting goals is that you need to be self-reflective and practice self-care. You can't fix everything in your life at once, but you can work on improving yourself one step at a time.
Self-care is something we all need more of, but it's especially important when trying to make positive changes in our lives. It means taking time out of your day for yourself—whether it's going for a walk or enjoying some alone time with a cup of tea—and if you don't do this regularly, then you won't have much energy left over for actually making those changes happen!
The new year is just an arbitrary date, not a magical turning point
The new year is a great time to start fresh, but it's not a magical turning point. It's an arbitrary date and there's no reason to wait until then to get started on your goals.
You don't need a special day or time of year to make changes in your life. You can start now without waiting for the new year, but if you want one reason why it's good to make resolutions at the beginning of January, here are some:
You have a deadline in mind—some motivation that will help keep you focused on achieving your goal when things get tough.
You have momentum going into 2019; people around you will be thinking about their own goals too, which gives them more incentive to support yours instead of sabotaging them or making excuses for why they can't do it (or at least not right now).
New Year's resolutions can be productive, but only if they're set with care
New Year's resolutions can be productive, but only if they're set with care. Here are a few tips for setting goals that you might actually achieve:
Make sure your goals are achievable. If you're working toward something that seems like it will take forever and require superhuman effort, it may be best to put it off until next year. Instead of saying "I'm going to run a marathon," say "I'm going to walk two miles every day."
Don't set goals that are too vague or ambitious. Goals like “write my novel” or “get promoted” can be great motivators—but they don't provide enough structure or specificity for success. Create more specific action plans before making these kinds of resolutions: “I'll write 500 words per day this month; next month I'll work on revising the first draft."
Make sure that your goals are truly your own and that you're motivated by them, not just by the idea of change
This is the most important part of your goal-setting process. If you set goals that are not truly yours and/or don't motivate you enough to work toward them, they will never be reached. You have to be 100% committed and motivated by your goals if you want them to become reality.
If you're having trouble deciding on a goal for yourself, take some time away from it and think about the things that really matter to you. What do you value? What do YOU want?
Once you have a few ideas written down, look at each one closely again: does this still seem like something I'm interested in? Does thinking about this make me feel happy or excited? If so, then this is probably worth pursuing further; if not - don't force yourself into anything!
Starting a goal when you're ready is more productive than waiting for January 1
You don't have to wait until the new year to start goals. You can do it whenever you want, but there are a few reasons why it may be better if you start now instead of waiting.
Setting a goal on your own terms is more productive than waiting for January 1.
Starting at any time means you're free from pressure and can make the most of your time with self-care, reflection, and planning.
This allows you to consider what your future self will need from this new year.
So, should you wait until the new year to set goals? The answer is no. You don't have to wait for a new year to make resolutions and begin working toward your goals. It's more important that you set them when you're ready and motivated by them—which can happen any time of the year!
If finding a legit work from home job is on your list of goals for 2023, start looking now! Check out the latest remote jobs posted on Legit Mom Jobs here.
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