It’s that time of year again… the time when the holiday season is winding down and the world starts to look ahead to the coming year. For many of us, it’s also the time to start making plans and promises to ourselves–Resolutions–that we have a whole year to fulfill. 

Symbolically, January 1 carries with it the promise of optimism, a clean slate on which to draw whatever future you have in mind.  It’s a fresh start, finally a new opportunity to achieve your dreams. 

But, in reality, January 1 is just another date on the calendar.  It’s a day like any other, with exactly the same opportunities as the day before it, the day after it, and every other day on the calendar.  It’s no different from any other date, so why are we waiting for it? 

Realistically, January 1 is a crutch. It’s an arbitrary date that marks the beginning of a new calendar year, and one that is convenient to use as a fresh start… but that’s the extent of its significance.  You can do everything you can do on January 1–and, because a lot of things are closed for the holiday, actually a good bit more–any other day of the year. 

So, why are you waiting for January 1? 

Whatever your New Year’s Resolution is, why not start on it today?  If you’re working to lose weight, for example, go to the gym today.  If you’re trying to get a better job, sign up for a certification class today.  There’s really no reason to wait for the first.  Or, if you’re reading this post sometime after the New Year, there’s also absolutely no reason you can’t start later than January 1.  If today is January 12, or even March 14 or May 16, there’s no better time to start working toward your goals than today. 

You don’t need a crutch, all you need is to get started.  And when is the best time to get started?  Right now. 

By starting today, you can coast into the New Year, or whatever holiday is upcoming, with a sense of accomplishment that you’re already well on your way to your goal… and that’s a recipe for a happy New Year.