It?s the first Monday of the New Year and that means that for most of us, it’s time to get back to reality. Most people are headed back to work and children are headed back to school?today. It?s also a good time to make sure you are getting the New Year off to a good start.
Lots of New Year?s goals and resolutions are set to start January 1, but I personally have always thought it?s better to start them on the first Monday of the New Year instead.
This is when I really feel like the New Year has begun because the holidays are officially over. I?ve eaten all the extra food I?m going to eat for a while and I?ve sat around and played games and watched movies with my family for days. I?m all rested up and ready to start the New Year off right.
If you are in the same situation, here are three ways you can start the New Year off right starting today.
Get Up a Little Earlier
Almost every New Year?s resolution takes time to accomplish, no matter if it?s exercising more, meal planning and cooking at home, or working on a side hustle to increase your income, all of these things are going to take some time to do every day. One way to make sure this happens is by getting up a little earlier. If you are reading this then it?s too late to change this habit today (unless you got up earlier today without reading my advice), but you can start putting this into practice tomorrow.
I hate mornings and I?m really not a morning person at all, but I?m going to start slowly by getting up five minutes earlier than normal this week, 10 minutes earlier than normal next week, 15 minutes earlier than normal the week after that, and so on until I am getting up a hour earlier than I used to. This extra hour of my day will allow me to get a head start on my goals for this year before tackling my everyday activities.
Practice Daily Affirmations
My financial accountability partner encouraged me to write up a daily affirmation relating to my financial goals?so that I can be reminded of why I?m working hard each and every day.
My daily affirmation is only a few sentences long and I read it aloud to myself every morning. At first it felt weird to talk to myself but now it?s starting to feel normal. Reading daily affirmations not only remind you of your goals on a daily basis, but they also help you to build up a positive energy regarding your goals and your current situation. No matter what your goals are, financial or not, you can benefit from having a daily affirmation posted on your mirror, in your office, or some other location that you visit daily.
Start Small
It can be hard to make huge life changes cold turkey in the New Year, and I think that?s why so many peoples? New Year?s resolutions fail. Instead, I?m trying to make changes slowly so they?ll last. For example, if your goal is to save more money you could try joining a savings challenge, like the 52 Week Savings Challenge.
In this challenge you set aside $1 the first week of the year, $2 the second week and so on until the end of the year to build up your savings account. This challenge has become a popular way to build and get in the habit of saving money.
Today is the first Monday of the New Year and it?s a good time to get started on your New Year?s goals or resolutions. The holidays are over and it should be easier to focus on your goals no matter what they may be.
Did you set New Year’s goals or resolutions? Have you gotten started on them yet? What have you found to improve your probability of success in reaching your goals each year?
Photo courtesy of: nidan
Wise Dollar
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I love that you added start small. So many people jump right in and only focus on the big picture. Then they get frustrated when they don’t see enough progress because they are so focused on the big picture and cannot celebrate the small steps already made.
I know the big picture is important, but when building new habits you definitely need to focus on what you accomplish (the small steps) along the way. 🙂
This year and as part of resolution, I’d get up an hour earlier so from 6AM to 5AM to work on my side hustle. I know that this would just bring results and I would have more time for myself. Happy New Year to you Kayla.
That’s dedication! I don’t think I could ever get up that early. 🙂