If you look around, the first day of the new year is the best day for a new start. And if you look around very quickly, you may get dizzy and fall.
People pick the first day of the new year as the best day for new commitments, significant decisions to take on difficult tasks they've been struggling with in the past year(s) and so on. Rather often, it's to start that diet, give up on smoking or drinking, exercise more and so on. And what better way to start it than sometime past noon (because you went to bed quite late last night) with a coffee and cigarette, to pass that heavy migraine from last night, hung-over and bloated from that one last amazing dinner? Because from now on it's salad days, it's waking up early to go to the gym and then serious work to outdo your best which hasn't been that good in the past years.
OK, maybe not necessarily today, but definitely on Monday. Today it's so nice outside and quiet indoors, and it's a holiday anyway so you're not really supposed to work. And the fridge is still full. It would be a shame to throw away all the food and cake. There are starving children in other parts of the world, you know. So: can you pass that bottle and ashtray, please? Yes, some cake would also be nice, thank you.
There's something not quite right with this approach. You already pushed it to Monday, and by Wednesday you're already exhausted. These stupid New Year's resolutions, merely because of peer pressure and idiots around you asking what your plans for this new fresh start are. What were you thinking, really? And you're not even half-way through the weekend. This is wrong.
A better approach, based on an ancient idea I've just made up is to avoid overburdening yourself from such daunting undertakings. Try to think long-term. Whatever you plan to do, think it through a bit. Sure, it sounds great on Dec. 31st, but will it also sound that great two months later? Or even by the end of the first week (see above)? Or even by the beginning of the first week (see above)? Try to take things easily, but steadily. Also, make it enjoyable. Set checkpoints, and then set some small rewards after each, too. Indulge a bit, you're only human. Otherwise it won't last. You won't last.
And what better way to make it more rewarding than starting with the reward itself? So: can you pass that bottle and ashtray, please? Yes, some cake would also be nice, thank you. Wow, this new year looks quite promising already. You can never go wrong with ancient wisdom.
Happy New Year, everyone! If your destiny guides your steps near the couch, drop by to wish me Happy New Year, too (without the 'everyone' and exclamation mark bit). If I'm not there, look by the fridge. Hurry up, though, it's cold there.
One more thing. Actually, no, I'm done already. I only added this because a post with less than 500 words would look lazy. And it was only 498 before this 'One more thing' thing. I could have squeezed a couple of superfluous epithets here and there, but I'm not that kind of person. I have integrity. And now that I'm done with this, I remembered I also have some cake. Probably not for long, though. And then all I'll have left is integrity. That's the kind of person I really am.
People pick the first day of the new year as the best day for new commitments, significant decisions to take on difficult tasks they've been struggling with in the past year(s) and so on. Rather often, it's to start that diet, give up on smoking or drinking, exercise more and so on. And what better way to start it than sometime past noon (because you went to bed quite late last night) with a coffee and cigarette, to pass that heavy migraine from last night, hung-over and bloated from that one last amazing dinner? Because from now on it's salad days, it's waking up early to go to the gym and then serious work to outdo your best which hasn't been that good in the past years.
OK, maybe not necessarily today, but definitely on Monday. Today it's so nice outside and quiet indoors, and it's a holiday anyway so you're not really supposed to work. And the fridge is still full. It would be a shame to throw away all the food and cake. There are starving children in other parts of the world, you know. So: can you pass that bottle and ashtray, please? Yes, some cake would also be nice, thank you.
There's something not quite right with this approach. You already pushed it to Monday, and by Wednesday you're already exhausted. These stupid New Year's resolutions, merely because of peer pressure and idiots around you asking what your plans for this new fresh start are. What were you thinking, really? And you're not even half-way through the weekend. This is wrong.
A better approach, based on an ancient idea I've just made up is to avoid overburdening yourself from such daunting undertakings. Try to think long-term. Whatever you plan to do, think it through a bit. Sure, it sounds great on Dec. 31st, but will it also sound that great two months later? Or even by the end of the first week (see above)? Or even by the beginning of the first week (see above)? Try to take things easily, but steadily. Also, make it enjoyable. Set checkpoints, and then set some small rewards after each, too. Indulge a bit, you're only human. Otherwise it won't last. You won't last.
And what better way to make it more rewarding than starting with the reward itself? So: can you pass that bottle and ashtray, please? Yes, some cake would also be nice, thank you. Wow, this new year looks quite promising already. You can never go wrong with ancient wisdom.
Happy New Year, everyone! If your destiny guides your steps near the couch, drop by to wish me Happy New Year, too (without the 'everyone' and exclamation mark bit). If I'm not there, look by the fridge. Hurry up, though, it's cold there.
One more thing. Actually, no, I'm done already. I only added this because a post with less than 500 words would look lazy. And it was only 498 before this 'One more thing' thing. I could have squeezed a couple of superfluous epithets here and there, but I'm not that kind of person. I have integrity. And now that I'm done with this, I remembered I also have some cake. Probably not for long, though. And then all I'll have left is integrity. That's the kind of person I really am.
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