The idea of January can be so refreshing – a clean slate to pave the way toward a brighter future. People tend to think in a very “macro” way when referring to January, putting all of their eggs for the year into this small basket. Before you know it, it’s the 31st, you’ve promised yourself you’d kick it into gear the last 3 Monday’s and you ultimately wind-up feeling like you’ve already failed. That feeling will likely remain prevalent in February because, well, it’s February and the Spring is a better time to start anyway, right? We’re in a bad habit of only focusing on things that give us immediate satisfaction, but finding a balance between immediate satisfaction, and future satisfaction may be the key to success.

Studies have shown January to be amongst the least productive months of the year (alongside December). The Christmas decorations are down, you’re scraping ice off your windshield every morning, and don’t even get us started on how dark it is when you leave work. We, on average, complete only 7.2% of our yearly tasks in January, compared to the 8.33% it should be. It’s time to trust the process. Get out of your comfort zone and allow yourself to dive into those ‘good for you’ things that will pay off in the long run.

  • Prioritize Self-Care

Now is the time to take stride in achieving those resolutions you promised yourself you would see through. Not surprisingly, improved mental health, increased physical activity, and improved diet are among the top 5 most common New Year’s resolutions. Maybe, for some, it’s not about adopting new habits, but rather let things go. Don’t hold onto things that deplete you (i.e., social media, toxic relationships, unhealthy habits). The decision to do what’s good for you is inevitably harder but will provide greater reward upon achievement. Trust the process!

  • Go Big or Go Home

Research shows that people who execute their most difficult tasks first are generally more productive and high achieving than those who start east and work their way up. We have a nasty habit of convincing ourselves that a large task may require greater effort and therefore may be unachievable. Completing the big, or more tedious task first, will make the rest seem like a piece of cake.

  • Check-in Frequently

An easy way to hold yourself accountable is to check in frequently. Have you checked any of your boxes or has life gotten in the way? It’s okay to allow yourself grace in completing goals. Setbacks are natural and life happens – things change. It’s how you re-focus after the setback that matters.

  • Reward Yourself

Don’t wait until the end to reward yourself. It’s okay to be proud of yourself for taking a step in the right direction, and if you can’t pat yourself on the back, who will? Even when times are tough, be sure to do something for yourself because that’s when you likely need it the most. Again, trust the process!

You don’t have to start on a Monday or on the first day of the month to make it count – just start! If you haven’t begun, this is your sign to do so! Go achieve your goals!

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