If You Wait Until January 1 To Make Resolutions, You're Already Too Late

Christmas and New Year's are a time for relaxing, getting together with friends and family ... and eating, drinking and partying too much.

It's almost as if New Year's resolutions are an excuse to go crazy and do what you want beforehand, promising yourself that you'll make a fresh start on January 1.

Let me tell you something you don't want to hear: The reason you're waiting until New Year's to make a resolution is because you don't want it enough.

People have a habit of promising themselves that they will start something at a certain point in time, using an array of excuses as to why it's illogical to just start now.

'I'll finish this last pack of cigarettes then I'll give up,' or 'I'll start that diet next week because I just did a food shop and don't want to waste it' are common excuses.

This is merely your brain tricking you into thinking its logical to stay in your comfort zone and do what you've always done. My mind tells me to slow down because I've achieved something, and every time I have to remind myself of the fact and fight back before I'm convinced to be complacent.

Every single time you convince yourself to start tomorrow, or next week or January 1, you are only making it harder to actually start.

Every single time you convince yourself to start tomorrow, or next week or January 1, you are only making it harder to actually start.

The more times you convince yourself to not start, the less likely you'll want to start in the future. This is why you must act on your impulse.

As soon as you find yourself complaining or getting depressed about a bad habit or something you don't like about your life, make the decision to change there and then. You're kidding yourself if you stick in your comfort zone by setting a date to start. That's easy to do — starting right now takes courage.

I like to use a few methods to help me act immediately.

The first is the three-second rule.

All you have to do is count down from three in your head and start straight away.

Really, just do it.

The second: Do anything task that takes two minutes or less — as soon as you think about it.

This pressures you into acting immediately. The results?

Remember the feeling you get when you act on things you've been putting off — things like cleaning your living space, reaching out to someone, doing a piece of work that scares you?

That's what it feels like to act immediately and focus on the present. It provides a feeling of fulfillment and empowerment. When you get into a momentum, you often end up having a super productive day.

Your ability to control yourself and act in the present will increase your confidence and self-belief. You'll be surprised at the effects of this.

When I act immediately on things I've been putting off or convincing myself to not start, I feel a great sense of self-control, which leads me to face my fears and escape my comfort zone almost effortlessly.

The only time is the present, so use it wisely. Only ever think and act in the present — don't dwell on past failures or let fear of the future stop you from starting your resolution. Make the right decisions now and before you know it the future will arrive and it'll be much better because of it.

So my question to you is this: Are you brave enough to start that thing you've been putting off … right this moment?

So my question to you is this: Are you brave enough to start that thing you've been putting off … right this moment?

If you are not, I'm afraid it's only going to get harder to change. Don't be like everyone else and start on January 1, only to fail before making any progress.

I dare you to do something extraordinary before January 1. Start now and get ahead!