The one with 10 resolutions… and 0 motivation
So tell me, how are your New Year's resolutions going?
I bet you took out your best notebook – the one with the gold cover that you bought thinking «"This year, I'm changing everything!"» —that you wrote your 10 goals in large letters, with stars, hearts, and even little drawings of unicorns to motivate yourself. And that now, in mid-January, your notebook is already buried under a pile of receipts and that sweater you ordered on sale and will never wear.
It's 10:37, and you've already rethought your life three times since this morning. «"This year, I'm really going to get into it!"» : you're going to run a marathon (even though the last time you ran was to catch the bus), learn Japanese (even though you're still struggling with French conjugations), start your own business (even though you don't even know what "balance sheet" means), and become that ultra-organized version of yourself you imagine in your dreams...
Except… your brain is still in mode «"Christmas = chocolates + TV series under a blanket until the Nutella supply runs out"». He doesn't want to hear about "personal challenges." He wants breaks, lie-ins, and well-rehearsed excuses to postpone things until tomorrow.
And then there are the great classics, the ones we repeat every year like a litany. «"I'm going to do sports 3 times a week."» → Actual translation: «"I'm going to sign up for a gym membership, go once, realize that tight leggings are a sadistic invention, and tell myself that walking to the fridge to get a Kinder Surprise is already a physical effort."»
«"I'm going to save money."» → Translation: «"I'm going to create a super detailed Excel spreadsheet with color charts... and splurge on a pair of sneakers on sale, telling myself it's an investment for my future life as an athlete."»
But really, why do we give up? Because we put ourselves under immense pressure. We believe we have to change everything overnight, as if we could just go from «"I survive"» à «"I am a productivity expert."» by snapping your fingers. But in reality, our brain needs small steps. And let's be honest… you jotted down your resolutions a bit under the influence of champagne bubbles and social pressure. «"And you, what are your New Year's resolutions?"», No ?
So this year, how do we make it work – or at least, make it make us feel less guilty?
You start by narrowing your list down to one or two resolutions. Really realistic.
Not «"I'm going to revolutionize my life."», but «"I'm going to try to cook a proper meal once a week."» (Even if it's pasta with tomato sauce, it counts). Or «"I'm going to bed 15 minutes earlier."» (because 30 is too ambitious, and we both know it). «"Drink more water"», That's already a great start – especially if your current record is one coffee in the morning and three glasses of wine in the evening.
Next, you adapt your goals to YOUR real life:
- «"Playing sports"» becomes «"Get moving a little"» → «"Take the stairs instead of the elevator," "Get off the subway one stop earlier"»
- «"Meditate for 10 minutes a day"» becomes «"Close your eyes and breathe three times before replying to an email that annoys you."» (or before sending a passive-aggressive message to your colleague, your choice).
- «Read more» becomes «"Read 5 pages before going to sleep"» (even though it's an article about «"Why do cats ignore us?"» or the latest Instagram stories).
And most importantly, you celebrate YOUR small victories:
- You replied to an important email without putting it off until tomorrow? Well done! , One less email in your inbox is a step towards serenity.
- You put on your sports leggings… even if it was just to pick up your package at the end of the street? Good job! (Putting on leggings is already a step towards making an effort, isn't it?)
- You survived a day without giving in to a pack of biscuits? Respect! (Even if you compensated with a square of chocolate – or three –, the intention was there, and that's what counts.)
And above all, stop beating yourself up. If you abandon a resolution, it's not a failure, it's just a readjustment. «"This year, I'm going to try... and if it doesn't work, I'll try again later."» Because your life isn't a race. It's more like a series of «"Okay, I'll do it tomorrow."», of «"Finally, I'm starting on Monday."», and of «"Wait, it's already March?!"».
So this year, you relax. You make a resolution, break it down into tiny pieces, and tell yourself that even if you don't keep it, at least you'll have tried. And that's already better than the 90% of the people around you, believe me.
In short, your resolutions are a bit like sales: in the moment, you tell yourself «"Wow, that's a great idea, I'm going to change everything!"», And two weeks later, you find yourself with a neon orange sweater you'll never wear and a list of forgotten good intentions. So this year, be kind to yourself. Make one resolution, just one, and stick to it. Or not. The important thing is not to take yourself too seriously and to have a little fun along the way. Because after all, " A year without failure is a year in which you dared nothing.. »
And don't forget to drink your glass of water 😉
