The cold, wintery slush of January and February runs together with long nights and low energy. It’s hard to get out of bed, much less work out four times a week and stay away from sweets.
Most New Year’s resolutions fail within the first week, and even more by the end of January. Such high rates of failure beg the question of why we set such unrealistic expectations for ourselves simply because it’s the beginning of a new calendar year.
One solution to foster growth and success is to set these goals a few months into the year, often in early March.
Instead of feeling forced to complete goals each day, the energy to do so can come more naturally during spring. Part of this comes from an increased amount of sunlight during the spring that is only found sparingly throughout the winter months.
While there’s technically the same number of hours each day, having daylight for longer makes it feel like there’s more time to work on your goals instead of cramming them in when you feel like hibernating. The wintertime easily undermines motivation, and simply getting through the endless days of cold, bitter darkness can be incredibly draining.
Along with hibernation, even the plants understand that winter is a time of dormancy. The natural world comes back to life during spring, as flowers bloom and plants grow. It’s clear that this new growth stems from the extended sunlight and warmer weather, and for people, spring can have the same effect.
For those who gave up on their New Year’s resolutions just a week into the year, now is the time to renew those goals and start again. Success may not come solely from the season change, but spring is sure to have a big impact on motivation levels and energy, which will lead to lasting change and flourishing.
