Don’t kid Yourself, honey. Be Honest.
Why I’m Breaking Up with Resolutions This Year 🎯
Gym memberships in January? They’re the punchline of the season. We all know the drill: Day one, you’re fired up. By week three, you’ve “earned” a cheat day that somehow stretches to February.
Been there, done that.
I’ve been guilty of this loop long before New Year’s hype. As a teenager, I had this bizarre habit when studying for exams: I’d wait for the “perfect time” to start.
If it was 5:13, I’d wait until 5:15. Missed it? Well, 5:30 would work. And before I knew it, hours had slipped by, and my books were as untouched as my resolutions.
Sound familiar? New Year’s has become the adult version of that “whole number” mentality. We keep waiting for the right time, the right moment, the next January.
But here’s the hard truth: Waiting doesn’t get us anywhere.
Fine, I confess…
I’m not preaching from some pedestal. I’m guilty too.
Let me confess: I had a goal of writing my first solo book. I even announced it on LinkedIn.
Bold, right? I wanted to launch it on my mother’s birthday, January 8th—a date that held deep meaning.
I started strong, fueled by excitement and deadlines. But somewhere along the way, I lost momentum. Life got messy, timelines fell apart, and the same people who had cheered me on began asking me about my progress.
Their well-meaning questions stung.
I felt guilt creep in. Not just guilt for missing deadlines, but for letting myself down.
It wasn’t just about the book anymore. Every time I thought about learning something new or starting another project, a question haunted me: Where’s the book?
That question became a mirror, reflecting every unfinished promise I’d made to myself.
But here’s the thing—I didn’t stop. Yes, I failed to hit my goal, but I didn’t give up. I moved the goalpost and started again. Slowly. Painfully. I’m still working on it.
The worst part isn’t the delay. It’s the feeling that I can’t trust myself. That’s the real sting. And I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
Don’t let this be you.
Why Resolutions Fail
Resolutions fail because they’re built on perfection. We imagine ourselves transformed overnight, with no room for slip-ups. But life is messy, timelines are flexible, and big goals often require more effort than we anticipate.
Sometimes we let ourselves off the hook too easily. At work, would you miss a deadline and brush it off? No. You’d juggle tasks, ask for help, or burn the midnight oil. You’d make it happen.
So why can’t we apply the same discipline to our personal goals?
Or maybe it’s not leniency—it’s dishonesty. Have you ever set a goal just to look good? Announced it, soaked up the congratulations, and then quietly abandoned it?
The problem isn’t failing. It’s never starting, or worse, convincing ourselves we didn’t really want it.
You have enough. You do enough. You are enough.
The Real Question
Look yourself in the mirror and ask: Do I really want this? How badly?
If the answer is no, that’s okay. You don’t have to climb every mountain or tick every box. It’s fine to live simply, to find joy in the ordinary, and to choose rest over hustle.
But if the answer is yes, then act.
Stop waiting for January or the next perfect moment. Start now.
From Resolutions to Real Change
I’m not here to sell you a planner or preach about SMART goals. You already know that stuff.
What I’m asking is for you to be brutally honest with yourself. What’s stopping you? Is it fear? Procrastination? A lack of clarity?
Take a hard look at your patterns:
Were your goals too big? Break them into smaller steps.
Did you lack accountability? Find a mentor or a friend to keep you on track.
Did you feel overwhelmed? Focus on one micro-habit at a time.
The trick isn’t perfection. It’s progress. Real change happens in the small, consistent actions you take every day.
If you’re ready to shift from resolutions to real change, here’s how you START:
Simplify your goals. Focus on what truly matters.
Track your progress. Celebrate small wins.
Accept setbacks. They’re part of the process.
Revisit your "why." Keep your purpose front and center.
Try again. Every day is a fresh start.
The future isn’t waiting for you to be perfect. It’s waiting for you to START ❤️
Now, I’d love to hear from you:
Take a moment to reflect and write this down in your journal (or comment below or email me privately):
What’s one promise you’ve made to myself that I’ve been avoiding? Why?
And what’s one small step you can take today to honour it?
Write back with your thoughts✨
If you’re ready to take that first step, I’ve got something special for you.
I’ve launched a Work-Life Planner & Journal—a digital and printable tool I poured my heart into during the holidays. It’s designed to help you reflect, organize, and set intentional goals for the new year.
And here’s the best part: it costs less than a cup of coffee!
This isn’t just a planner; it’s a way to gift yourself clarity and focus for 2024. Whether you’re someone who loves journaling or someone who needs a little nudge to get started, this is for you.
Check it out in my store and make this year the one where you truly honor your goals.
A Gift to Kickstart Your Year
If you’re ready to take that first step, I’ve got something special for you.
I’ve launched a Work-Life Planner & Journal—a digital and printable tool I poured my heart into during the holidays. It’s designed to help you reflect, organize, and set intentional goals for the new year.
And here’s the best part: it costs less than a cup of coffee!
This isn’t just a planner; it’s a way to gift yourself clarity and focus for 2024. Whether you’re someone who loves journaling or someone who needs a little nudge to get started, this is for you.
Check it out in my store and make this year the one where you truly honour your goals.
Sonali, we're speaking the same language! Perfectionism leads to creative blocks and keeps us from truly being ourselves. If you are still keen to write that book, hit me up, I coach people through the book writing process and you seem like a dope person to work with!