By Tim Rigby

4 IMPORTANT REASONS TO START YOUR 2023 RESOLUTION NOW

As 2022 is winding down, many of us are thinking about what New Year’s resolution we should attempt to implement in 2023 (the operative word being “attempt”). This is fairly standard behaviour, but we here at Adamo Nest have never believed in simply conforming to something just because it’s “standard”. Indeed, we like to think outside the box and deliver compelling and useful personal direction that breaks the mould of what’s considered “ordinary”.

The most popular New Year’s resolutions have a common denominator in that they usually apply to health, wellness and fitness. We’re all aware of the importance of one’s health, but in looking back at how we’ve lived to date, there’s a universal law which states that we could always do better. In fact, this law pertains both to a healthy lifestyle and to physical performance. Specifically, we’re talking about losing excess weight and fat, adding muscle, improving stamina, increasing our strength and speed, and adhering to a healthier diet – the most essential key to health.

So, let’s get to it. Have you an idea of what you want from yourself in 2023? There’s no time like the present to get started right away. Yes, we mean today. Although the New Year remains at arm’s length (and some pen-to-paper planning is critical before commencing your personal transformation), we don’t want you to wait until January 1 – we want you to begin enacting your journey to success now.

Here are four key reasons why this is a valid and smart life decision:

Avoid taking one step backward before two steps forward
If you’re clear on what you want in 2023, beginning its pursuit before January can save you a lot of frustration. After all, December is no ordinary month: it’s the month for celebrating, indulging, and relaxing our intrinsic disciplinary code. Many of the flock throw moderation out the window under the mistaken belief they’ll make up for it in the New Year. But from a fitness perspective, all this produces is a waste of time. For example, if you know you want to lose 25 pounds, but postpone your resolution until after December, there’s a good chance you’ll put on five or six pounds during the holidays. This means you’ll eventually have to lose 30 pounds or more, just to achieve a net loss of 25. So why wait?

You’ll get to enjoy the results longer
This is an often-overlooked benefit of starting your resolution now. If you happen to set a specific goal and then manage to achieve it over the coming months, you’ll actually get to enjoy it earlier and longer. Say you’re looking to drop 10 inches from your waistline in preparation for next summer at the beach. If you begin this undertaking in December, you’ll probably reach your goal by April. If you wait until January to begin, you likely won’t reach your target until May. And as we all know, summers in Canada are brief and fleeting – isn’t it better to get the job done sooner and then enjoy the results of your hard work for as long as possible?

You may never have to do the most difficult part again
Old habits can be difficult to break. Sometimes resolutions require a complete turnaround in things like your lifestyle, diet and physical activity. In order to accomplish fitness targets, you must accept that you’re going to have to introduce change. However, it’s rather like a train up on its track but standing stationary. Enacting your resolution is like breaking the friction which holds the wheels motionless – once you get the wheels in motion, carrying out improved habits becomes easier over time. And if you happen to make use of the time afforded by an early start and achieve your target, and then decide to continue and improve even more, then next year’s resolution will be much easier (or possibly not needed at all).

Discipline and good habits can be applied to other walks of life
There’s really no substitution for sound discipline. Wanting something like unhealthy food or drink, but forcing yourself to abstain, is a contrary and challenging habit. But it’s really for the greater good. If you begin your resolution in December, by the time the New Year rolls around, you may already have developed certain disciplinary habits such as an austere daily regimen; this can be applied to your professional career as it fosters organizational skills and self-control. Complement this with January being a popular time of the year when people begin new jobs, and the benefits will fit as well as those nice warm gloves you received as a present over the holidays.

Starting your 2023 resolution early makes sound logic and produces some amazing benefits you probably overlooked. Don’t be shy to stray from the flock. After all, this is precisely how winners reach the finish line first.