Why February is the best time to set New Year resolutions

Why should you wait an entire month after New Year to set your resolutions?

It's easy to rush into trying to achieve your resolutions straight after the hype of New Year, especially as you will have probably spent a lot of time celebrating over the holidays. However, jumping into the mindset of achieving your goals as soon as possible can have a lot of setbacks in January. Here is why you should hold off until February to start acting on your resolutions. 

The holiday season can be hectic...

From catching up with friends, spending quality time with family and celebrating...a lot, having time away from your normal routine over the holidays means that it can take a lot more time and effort to settle back into your student lifestyle. After you get back from Christmas, you're bound to make plans with your flatmates and friends or need to catch up on your uni work. All of this takes time.

If you set out to achieve your goals from the get go, you don't give yourself enough time to recharge, reflect on the year and really think about what you need to do to successfully achieve them. As a result, you're more likely to set unrealistic goals, have extremely high expectations for yourself and not achieve them. We don't want you to beat yourself up about it! 

So it's better to use January to...

• Plan on how you can achieve your goals

Planning is a crucial part on preparing yourself for what you set out to do for the rest of the year. It's important that you set yourself up for success instead of sprinting into the new year all guns blazing to figure out that you just don't have the energy to see them through. Work on developing a new routine, figure out when you can fit the time in to actually work on your resolutions and how you can stick to them long-term. 

• Prepare yourself - mentally, physically and emotionally

It's not worth trying to dive head first into your resolutions if you're not mentally or physically prepared to do them. Settling back into university life can be draining and challenging. You wan't to feel like your best self to be able to tackle your goals successfully. Use January to rejuvenate and practice self-care so you can truly decide what is best for you. 

Taking baby steps can be really helpful in the long-run. Start a journal to document your feelings, work on what things motivate you and clear out the clutter so you can start on a clean slate for February with clear and achievable goals. This way, you can start afresh and focus so you're less likely to procrastinate and get sidetracked as the year progresses. 

By the time February rolls around...

You'll have all of the tools you'll need to start smashing those resolutions! As long as you have a positive mindset, a clear plan and have set realistic goals you'll definitely be able to achieve everything you set out to do. 

Remember, a year is a marathon and not a sprint. Take your time, have a clear mind and you're bound to succeed.

Good luck!