2024 Resolution Fatigue? Revitalize Your Goals in a Single Day

At a recent event, a close friend pointed out that the end of January means we are 1/12th through the year. This elicited mixed reactions: while some in our group felt inspired, others started sharing how behind they felt in what they thought they’d accomplish for the year already. One person even expressed concern, saying, “What have I accomplished so far? I’m not nearly where I hoped to be by February.” January can be both the slowest and the fastest month. It starts with the excitement of setting New Year’s resolutions, but as the month winds down, feelings of exhaustion, discouragement, or the need to rethink initial plans might arise.?

Fortunately, there’s good news: it’s possible to recalibrate in just one day with this Career Reset Day outlined below. This straightforward yet impactful approach requires three key elements: a set time free from distractions, your favorite note-taking tools, and an open mind.

Comprehensive Career Reset Day

The night before: Clear space

Duration: 1-2 hours

Activity: Declutter your space to minimize distractions. Take care of that laundry pile you’ve meant to fold for a week, tidy up your living area, and complete any last-minute chores. This will help ensure you’re fully present and focused for your reset day.

Day of

Step 1: Introspective morning walk or body movement

Duration: 1 hour

Activity: Begin with a walk or a workout that makes you feel good about yourself. Use this time to start establishing a mind-body connection, reduce stress hormones, and tell your brain it’s time to prioritize yourself for the day. If your workout allows, use this time for deep thought about your career journey, focusing on what initially inspired you.

Step 2: The reflective brainstorm

Duration: 30 minutes - 1 hour

Activity: In an unstructured format, jot down thoughts about your career - dreams, aspirations, challenges. This could be a mind map, free writing, or sketches. You want to unlock creative and unfiltered thoughts about your career. There’s nothing too small or audacious - it’s all worthwhile. Consider guiding questions such as “What aspects of my job am I most passionate about?” or “What parts of my career resolutions excite me the least?” or “At the end of the day, reaching my goals will empower me to…”

Step 3: Lunch and a short break

Duration: 1 hour

Activity: Take a complete break from thinking about your goals. Have lunch, go for a walk, or engage in any activity that gives your mind a rest. Studies show that taking a break from solving a problem can help you solve it faster. This could be listening to a podcast, eating lunch outside if the weather permits, calling a friend, or reading a chapter from your favorite book. Avoid starting a TV show or anything with a risk of distracting you from the rest of the plan.

Step 4: Goal reassessment and action planning

Duration: 30 minutes - 1 hour

Activity: Reflect on your morning brainstorm and identify key themes. Reevaluate your current career goals to align more closely with these insights. Break down these adjusted goals into smaller, actionable tasks with clear deadlines.

Step 5: Find inspiration

Duration: 30 minutes

Activity: Sometimes it’s hard to visualize if you haven’t seen what you want to accomplish done in your current circle or community. Compile a list of inspiring people, books, and podcasts that serve as examples of what is possible. This list can include professionals excelling in your field, authors focusing on personal or professional development areas relevant to your objectives, current or prospective mentors, influential social media figures, and podcasts that broaden your understanding of key topics. Regularly referring to this list can offer insight into how others have navigated challenges similar to yours, providing valuable strategies and saving you time in your journey. This resource serves as a reminder of what’s possible and keeps you anchored to your goals.

Step 6: Write your new narrative

Duration: 30 minutes

Activity: Compose a letter to your future self, focusing on the positive outcomes of reaching the goals you created. Include how you’ll feel after achieving your goals. Consider referencing the methods you used to accomplish these objectives, keeping the narrative uplifting to leave you feeling inspired. This exercise helps you visualize your successful endpoint and reinforce to your subconscious that your goals are attainable. Your letter might include affirmations such as, “I’m incredibly proud of you for attending a monthly product developer meetup and expanding your network. It took a lot of courage to get out of your comfort zone, and you’re so much happier for it,” “Reaching financial stability with a $--,000 salary looks so good on you,” or “Clearing your debt was a smart move – leveraging that free Coursera course to gain new skills and earn a promotion was a brilliant strategy. You’re so smart for doing that.” Once your letter is complete, read it out loud to yourself and notice how it feels to hear this back to you. Use this letter to encourage you when you encounter moments of doubt or challenges to reinvigorate your motivation.

Step 7: Schedule follow-up actions

Duration: 30 minutes

Activity: Schedule specific times to take the next steps on the action items identified. These steps involve researching courses, contacting potential mentors, or initiating a new project. Use tools such as your calendar, free project management tools including Notion or Asana for tracking reminders and monitoring progress, or any other effective method of accountability and scheduling that works for you. This organization step will make sure you follow the plan you created.

Step 8: Relax

Duration: As long as you want

Activity: You’ve just put in a lot of work. Rest is required to allow your brain time to process and give your body time to recharge. Do something that lets you relax in a meaningful way and feel good about your new plan.

The transition to February is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and recalibrate. Whether you are energized by your progress or need a motivational boost, remember that reaching your goals will always take time, and be kind to yourself throughout the process. This simple one-day plan to reevaluate your goals and commitments can provide clarity and renewed focus. Embrace the process of introspection and remember that each day offers a new chance to steer your year in the desired direction. With an open mind and a clear plan, the rest of the year is yours to shape and enjoy.