With each New Year, we are faced with a brand new chance to turn our lives around. I mean, you can do that at any given time of the year, but there’s something particularly refreshing about this universal timeline that makes us feel more determined for a fresh start at the very beginning of the year.

This makes the month of January so exciting. People are full of hope and optimism for their lives, bustling with a rush of energy for their work. The problem however is that most people begin to lose their energy as the months go by. And by the end of the year, they wonder where the time has gone.

That’s where the question comes in: How do you really keep the momentum going?

The Choice

Let’s start with this. You have a choice to take forward what YOU want to. What is it in your life that no longer serves you? It could be a habit, a belief, or a person. Write down whatever it is that you want to leave behind. And then make a decision to not take it into the next year.

Now write down what you want to bring into your life. What habits do you want to form? What skills do you want to hone? Do you want to read more books or open a business?

Just having clarity on this will give you better direction for the rest of the year. Engage with what YOU decided on, and don’t spend any energy on the ones you chose to leave behind.

The Plan

Now comes the implementation part. What mindset shifts would you require to adopt those new habits? How much time a day do you need to keep aside to learn the skill? What preparations do you need to start your business? Plan this ahead and make a decision about your daily routine. As Saul Bellow once said: “A plan relieves you of the torment of choice.”

But also, don’t fall into the trap of planning everything down to the last detail. Leave some room for the uncertainties of life. Decide your priorities and take it one day at a time. Just knowing what you need to prioritize for the day, and keeping your overall vision at the back of your head will help you maintain momentum in the long run.

Remember that the baseline is to remember why you made the resolution at the beginning of the year. Do you wish to be the same person in December 2022? If not, make this year the best one yet and give yourself the chance to become the best YOU.