Why March is the New January For Goal Setting

Welcome to the first edition of The Job Journal of 2024 ????

I haven’t welcomed you to previous editions so I’m not entirely sure why I’ve just done so, but who knows, it might become a thing.

Before I begin, a quick caveat. This article is not meant to be prescriptive. I think I’ve done an okay job in previous editions of not being preachy, and the goal here is to propose an alternative way of thinking, rather than saying anyone else's is wrong.

With that poorly written sentiment out of the way, let me ask you a question ??

Are you someone who sets New Year’s resolutions with the best of intentions, only for them to come crashing down by the end of January?

Full disclosure, I certainly am ????♂?

While I love the process of pulling out a fresh notebook (only to find last year’s resolutions on the front page and not much more) and jotting down lists in my very best handwriting, I’ll be lucky come February if I’ve remembered what they are let alone stuck to any.

I know I’m not alone. There is something undeniably attractive about the thought of a blank slate and the possibilities that come with the introduction of a new year.

We make resolutions to start something new, do something less, say yes, say no, ask why, do more, yet we make these commitments in the middle of winter. It’s cold, dark, we’re exhausted from hosting, overindulging, making sure our kids don’t kill each other, and our immune systems are under constant attack from pretty much every dirty bugger out there.

Is it really the most conducive of environments for anyone to break bad habits, form new ones, or strive for challenging goals?

If you’re a repeat offender when it comes to falling off the New Year’s resolution bandwagon, fear not. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, you’re in the majority. And it's not necessarily because you’re aiming too high. It looks like timing plays a big part too.

So this year, why not try saving your resolutions and goal setting until the spring? The days get longer, the weather gets warmer, we slowly exit from ‘hibernation mode’ (yes, it’s a thing, no, it doesn't involve sleeping in a cave??), and it becomes far more natural for us to focus on growing, changing, and starting something new.

No, I’m not condoning that you eat cheese and biscuits for dinner until March, and sure, you probably should get back to the gym if your waistband is digging into your love handles (preach), but be mindful that if you haven’t set goals yet or find yourself falling off the bandwagon sooner than you’d like then remember that 2024 is a marathon, not a sprint.

Be a little kinder to yourself and know that spring is just around the corner ??

Enjoyed this edition of The Job Journal? Like, comment and share away and if you’re looking for some advice on how to optimise your LinkedIn profile to give yourself the best chance of landing a new role then you can do that by downloading by FREE LinkedIn playbook ‘Invisible to Irresistible’ via the link below.

FREE LINKEDIN PLAYBOOK