It's the new year and there's bound to be that one person on your social circle that's out to be their "new me" for the (n)th time.
New gym membership, a diet plan, new hobby...
I'm giving most of the people I know broadcasting these things a week or two before they fold. Why? because the best time to build habits was more than 2 weeks ago. This is when you create systems that push you to do stuff even without motivation and there's no better challenge that pushing yourself into productivity when the atmosphere gives you plenty of excuses to chill.
I'm probably just being an workaholic here but that's really how I function. If I get more than 3 days of doing nothing but lazy entertainment, I get stressed on vacation because there has to be something I should be doing that's equally productive and fun (not work, not the daily grind work).
Imagine going into the workplace where people try to present their conviction and transformation. I'm not buying any of that until that habit sticks for more than a quarter of the year. Change is subtle, impactful and shouldn't require external validation. If it needs constant praise, it's probably for the performative sake.
I think of it as an after effect of being in Holiday mode for a month. Where the good feelings tend to carry over for the next month and gradually die. This is when motivations will eventually run dry and people are reconditioned by their regular program.
So think about all the excuses people tell themselves to postpone their change, think about the times when they have to announce they'll be changing, if the performance screams louder than the impact, then you have an answer.
I'm not starting out with a negative observation. Contrary, this is the type of reminder I look forward to whenever I want a benchmark for change. I firmly believe you don't have to suffer the consequences of a life lessons if you can see it unfold on someone else's life.
Thanks for your time.