Why wait until January 1 of each year to start making changes? What’s the difference between January 1 and right now?

I know, the holidays are a busy time. You probably have a list full of excuses why December is a horrible month to develop good habits.

But I predict that come mid-January, the drama of the holidays will subside and, though you have every intention of pursuing your resolutions, you’ll come up with yet another list of excuses why mid-January just isn’t the right time to develop those good habits you want so much.

This happens every year.

Just think back for a minute: What were some of your resolutions in past years? How long did you actually pursue them?

Be honest. (Remember, when you lie to yourself, TOPUCU – The Only Person You Cheat Is You).

I will tell you that I’ve had every good intention in my being to develop good habits and release bad habits…starting January 1. Looking back at almost a whole year complete, I don’t think I really worked toward my resolutions. And quite frankly, I don’t even remember what my resolutions were!

So this year, instead of waiting until January 1 for our lives to go *poof* and magically be everything we want them to be, why don’t we get a head start and build some momentum? Why don’t we start right now?

Change isn’t magic

We know change doesn’t happen overnight, but we want it to anyways. We don’t want to wait for the life we want. We want it right now so we can start living it.

But the life we want won’t really give us the satisfaction we are looking for. Rather, it is the act of pursuing a better life that gives us that satisfaction.

It’s the whole journey-destination thing. We can’t get to where we want to be unless we work toward it. And it’s through work and persistence that we experience unmatchable growth and change. That growth and change is what gets us where we want to be.

It’s like wanting to experience Kalalau Beach and getting dropped on the shore by a helicopter or boat without hiking the mentally and physically challenging 11-mile trail along the Na Pali Coast. (Can I get a TOPUCU?)

Right Now Resolutions

Instead of New Year’s Resolutions, I propose we make a list of Right Now Resolutions.

You know what your long-term goals are. But you’re not going to get to your long-term goals if you wait until the perfect time to start pursuing them.

What can you do right now that will set you on the path toward your goals?

Think small. You don’t have to boil the ocean to create significant change.

For example, here at The Be Well Place, I promise to deliver inspiration directly to your inbox when you subscribe. However, I have failed to this consistently – not because I don’t want to or don’t care or like to break my promises, but because I have not created an effective system of work for emails.

Thus, my number one Right Now Resolution is to write a darn email and send it out to everyone!

I think a mid-week boost with some positive messages and motivational images and quotes is just the ticket. So, if you’re already a subscriber, expect some inspo in your inbox every Wednesday.

If you’re not a subscriber, please enter your email here:

Now, just because I decide to send an email to you every Wednesday doesn’t mean everything is hunky-dory. There’s one more Right Now Resolution that I must make: I need to dedicate a particular amount of time each week to write the email.

Broadly speaking, this means I need to manage my time with respect to my goal.

It’s all about time management

Think about your goals.

Do you want to get in shape, change your eating habits, be more social, get a better job, love and appreciate yourself, get others to love and appreciate you? What are your goals?

Now, what do you need to do to get to your goals? You know the exact answer to this question. If you don’t, then you’re probably just dreading the work necessary to create real change in your life. And real change might seem scary to you right now (article definitely pending).

Whatever tasks you need to complete, you need to allocate time to work on such tasks.

Get out the calendar and write in your workouts and meals. Add an hour per week for personal development and self-reflection. Make every Tuesday night girl’s night. Designate the last Friday evening of every month to movie night with the fam.

Manage your time with respect to your goal and you’ll find that you have plenty of time to do what is necessary to create real change in your life.

Change your routine, change your life

I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but this is seriously the key to change.

Clearly, your current routine isn’t doing you any favors. If it was, you’d be living the life of your dreams, right?

That’s what your Right Now Resolutions are for – to change your current routine.

Think about your goals, then align your actions with your thoughts. (Check out Why Positive Thinking Isn’t Enough)

REFLECT, ACT, SHARE

Forget the drama of New Year’s Resolutions and make a list of Right Now Resolutions.

You know what your goals are. What do you need to do to get there? If what you’re currently doing isn’t getting you closer to your goals, change your routine. If you need some structured help on how to do that, let my friends at TOPUCU help you out.

Have any good tips? Please share your ideas with us!

And please allow me to fulfill my Right Now Resolution to send inspiration to your inbox every Wednesday by subscribing here:

 

(photo credit: swimparallel via photopin cc)