TAKING THE STEPS YOUR FUTURE SELF WILL THANK YOU FOR

Each new year offers a clean slate, brimming with aspirations—big or small. Yet, how often do we find our resolve waning as life sets in? If you’re like me, you start a new year, a new month, week, even a new day with an aspiration. It can be as simple as getting up and getting dressed, or more involved, like learning a second language, improving mental health, physical fitness, or personal finances.

No matter what it is, it’s important to set yourself up for success.

Why Goals Can Feel Hard

How many of us have made a resolution or set a goal only to give up almost as soon as we started? According to Forbes Health, the second Friday in January is called “Quitters Day” because of the high percentage of people who give up on their resolutions and the 17th of January sees so many more of us walking away from our goals that it has become known as, “Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day.”

Bottom line, you aren't alone!

Small Steps, Big Impact

And here’s the good news: you don’t have to wait for another January 1st to start fresh. Every day offers a chance to realign with your goals, no matter how many false starts you’ve had. It is never too late to re-engage. Never.

Perhaps your goal felt too ambitious. You didn’t stop to consider the effort and steps it would take to be successful. Whatever the drawback, there are achievable ways to win at improving our lives.

Consider this: “Anything that is new, even if it’s good, will feel uncomfortable until it is also familiar.” These wise words come from Brianna Wiest in her book, The Mountain Is You.

Building a new habit (which is what every resolution, broken down into its purest form, is) takes exactly the amount of time required to go from uncomfortable to so deeply embedded that you can’t imagine NOT doing it. Think of brushing your teeth—it’s automatic now, but it started as a habit you had to learn.

It’s the micro-shifts that build success. Our brains are designed to keep us comfortable, which is why change can feel so difficult. By taking a step by step approach we can trick our brain into embracing change without overwhelming it. Break your goals down into manageable pieces, and you’ll find that even the most daunting aspirations become achievable.

1. Start small. Identify one small, manageable change you can make today. For example, if you’re learning a new language, commit to learning just five or ten minutes a day.

2. Attach new habits to existing ones. Practice during your morning coffee or as part of your bedtime routine.

3. Celebrate progress. Acknowledge your wins, no matter how small. So often we feel like we have to reach the finish line first. We don't. Celebrate the wins along the way!

   
   

My Personal Journey

Last year, I made the decision to (re)learn French. It’s a beautiful language, Canada’s official second language, and one that I struggled to learn in high school and later in university. In fact, it took me so long to get the final French credit required for my Honours Degree that I had kids old enough to watch - and cheer me on - as I convocated.

I opted to use Duolingo for this goal, and I have practiced consistently for 355 days (as of the writing of this post). It’s become a daily habit, one that I can’t imagine not continuing. I’m far from fluent, but my understanding of the language and my ability to converse in a basic way have definitely improved. This journey has taught me that consistency truly is the secret sauce to success.

Your Fresh Start Begins Today

We live in a world of instant gratification, but some things take time—and that’s okay. Rome wasn't built in a day, after all. The important thing is to keep moving forward, even if the steps feel small.

Now, take a deep breath. If you’ve walked away from something you truly want for 2025, start again. It’s that simple. And if you’re still on the path, keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Whether your goal is to walk 10 minutes a day, save $50 a month, or reconnect with an old friend, it all starts with one step. For me, a goal for 2025 is this post - the first in more than two years. The next goal is another post next month and then one each month going forward. And if I miss ... you guessed it ... I'll start again.

So, I encourage you to take one step today—no matter how small—toward the life you envision.

Your future self will thank you.