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There is motivational magic in starting something new at the beginning of a time period. Something about Mondays and, even bigger, New Year’s Day just says START GOALS HERE. I’m here to persuade you differently though and give yourself a new year jumpstart by launching into those big goals NOW.
The Case for Goal Starting Anytime
So why should you give up on the magic that comes with starting at a “natural” beginning time New Year’s? What possible benefit could come from that?
Give Yourself Time to Set Up Habits and Routines
When you start a goal on January 1st it is very easy to get caught up in the hype of starting something new but it wears off quickly when the hard work of habit-forming sets in.
The better option is to start before that big motivational magic day so that you have time to start working on the habits you need to succeed. And, when that slump of lacking motivation hits, you can use the motivation of the New Year refocus to propel you past it. As a result, you are more likely to allow the habit to fully set in.
Able to Identify and Correct Motivational Sticking Points
When you start your new goals + habits before January 1st, you give yourself the opportunity to see how those habits impact your daily routine. Think of it as a trial run and use it to identify and correct those motivation sticking points that may trip you up.
What I mean by motivational sticking points are those things that make it harder for you to find the motivation to stick to your goals or actively prevent you from working on them. Things like finding out you forget to pack your lunch 3 times out of 5 if you leave it to be done in the morning but are more likely to remember if you do it the night before.
There is a certain magic in being a goal starting rebel…
That being said, when I realized on Monday that there were only 12 weeks left this year, more than that, this DECADE, I knew it was time to try another go at completing a 12 Week Year. My new year jumpstart is starting now!
Related Reading: Goal Mapping – How to Gamify Your Goals
12 Week Year – Ending the Decade on a High Note
I read the 12 Week Year last year as a way to help me get more done while in college. I LOVED it and wrote a whole long review that goes into more detail about what the 12 Week Year is and why I think it’s the best thing since sliced bread.
However, for those that don’t know, the 12 Week Year is a productivity and goal completion method developed by Brian Moran and Michael Lennington in their best selling book by the same name.
It is described as a guide to creating results through focus, commitment, and accountability. Unlike a lot of other productivity books, it’s not just a book of theory but one that includes an actionable plan that you build as you read through it.
The core of the book can be summed down to 4 things:
- Shorten the timeline on goals that you set
- Prioritize your time by blocking parts of it off through a weekly plan
- Measure how well you completed the steps you laid out for your goals weekly, and work to improve it
- Focus your goals and join a community for accountability
Accountability and the 12 Week Year
The 12 Week Year quite frequently stresses Accountability. Not as a tool for punishment, because that doesn’t work, but as a principle that you hold yourself to. Accountability is you asking yourself, “Is this the best that I can do?” and “What more can I do to get the result?”
Moran also suggests that in addition to measuring yourself, you should attend a weekly accountability meeting with other people also participating in the 12 Week Year. This meeting is supposed to be a motivational factor to help you get more things done. It’s also a way for you to trade tips about what is working for you and to get help with things that aren’t.
I nominate YOU as my accountability group
Sort of. For the next 12 weeks, to both keep myself accountable as well be helpful to you, I’ll be posting a weekly update on my 12 Week Year progress on Mondays here on the blog.
You’ll not only get an update about me, but I’ll also be sharing my insights for the week and a tip you can use if you decide to start your own 12 week year. Let me know in the comments if you’ve ever completed a 12 week year!
Final Thoughts
There is motivational magic in starting a new goal or habit on Mondays and New Year’s Day. However, you would be limiting yourself if you only started new things when it was easy. Instead, give yourself time to set up habits and routines, as well as identify the motivational sticking points, by starting right now.
Skillshare is a great place to pick up new skills for planning
For some help in planning your new year jumpstart or 12 Week Year, I recommend checking out Skillshare. They have thousands of classes to help you get motivated and stay on track such as:
- Bullet Journaling
- Goal Setting
- Content Planning
If you sign up now with my link you’ll get 2 months free to try it out!
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