Many people use the start of the new year to improve themselves. Some decide to work out and get healthy, others set goals to learn a new hobby or spend time with family. Using the New Year is a good way to feel like you are starting fresh and motivates you to pursue your goals. However, New Year's resolutions sometimes do not last very long. Whether the person gives up or abandons their goal, it is common for people to ignore what they want to change. There are plenty of reasons why setting goals sometimes does not work out, and even more ways to keep yourself motivated on your journey to self-improvement.
Arguably, the biggest factor in people losing interest in New Year’s resolutions is setting their sights too high. Making unrealistic goals almost always makes you feel you are not doing enough, and eventually, you will give up. For example, a goal of working out every day may be an unrealistic goal if you are new to the subject. Exercising daily is healthy, but it is hard to be consistent. On the other hand, if you have already been working out weekly and want to exercise more, the goal is not unrealistic and will be easier to accomplish.
Another reason to abandon a goal is a loss of motivation. Remember why you set the goal in the first place. You recognize that you want to change something and put in the effort. It is important to remember the main reason for your goal and it is helpful to keep a journal of your progress. If you feel unmotivated, look back on the progress you have already made. This will give you the energy to continue.
When working toward a goal, you may make a misstep. For instance, you may set a goal to pray on time and then miss a prayer. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes. What matters is that you learn from them and put in the effort to do better. Feeling disappointed is natural, but lingering on your failure is unhealthy and will hold you down. Accept that goals are a journey and will take time to help you stay committed.
Here are some steps you can take to make sure you can stay committed to your New Year’s goals:
- Think of something you would like to do. If the goal seems too big, try and break it down into smaller portions to make it easier and more achievable.
- Organize your goal. One way to do this is to list what you need to do to complete it fully. This will help you focus on small tasks. For example, if you want to travel to more places, a smaller goal could be starting a savings account. It helps to set your steps for the day or the week beforehand, so you know what exactly you need to do to stay on track.
- Track your progress. This could be an extension of the list or something new entirely. Keeping tabs on what you have already accomplished will keep you motivated.
- Do not tackle your goals alone. If you are struggling, ask someone for help. They can give you advice and provide motivation.
- Celebrate small achievements. Again, pursuing a goal is a journey. Small accomplishments are worth celebrating. Be proud that you are making progress.
As Muslims, we should take this opportunity to strengthen our faith. With Ramadan in just a few months, there will be plenty of chances to do so. There are many instances in hadith where the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, encourages improving one’s faith. Anas Bin Malik narrated that the Prophet said:
"Whoever makes the Hereafter his goal, Allah makes his heart rich, and organizes his affairs, and the world comes to him whether it wants to or not. And whoever makes the world his goal, Allah puts his poverty right before his eyes, and disorganizes his affairs, and the world does not come to him, except what has been decreed for him.”
(Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 2465)
In another, narrated by Abu Hurairah, the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
"If any one of you improves (follows strictly) his Islamic religion then his good deeds will be rewarded ten times to seven hundred times for each good deed and a bad deed will be recorded as it is.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari 42)
The fast approach of the New Year gives us all the chance to improve ourselves. Realizing a goal requires time, patience, consistent effort, and motivation. This makes it hard for people to stick to a single goal. However, there are several methods to keep yourself motivated and help make your goals much more achievable. Breaking down your goal, learning from your mistakes, and getting support from others are just a few of these methods. Additionally, Muslims are strongly encouraged to set paths of self-improvement, whether it is our faith or something else. By following these steps and maintaining a steady commitment, we can turn our New Year’s resolutions into lasting, meaningful changes in our lives.
Uthman Guadalupe is a Latino Muslim college student with a passion for history and art. He is an assistant Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach and freelance illustrator. He is fluent in Spanish and lives with his family in Maryland where he also enjoys playing video games and binging shows
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