We are all familiar with the custom of making New Year’s resolutions. Once a year, we are supposed to look back at what we have accomplished, figure out where we are now, and then decide what we would like to do in the coming year. Common themes include losing weight, exercising more, making more money, and various other life-changing ideas. But most of us don’t follow through. The reason? The ideas are too vague, have no action steps to take, and lack a specific timeframe.
When faced with 365 days ahead of us and broad goals such as losing weight, it is easy to start with some enthusiasm but to fall into procrastination and revert to old habits relatively quickly. If we have an entire year to do something, what’s the rush? Of course this leads to the end of this year’s review looking exactly like the previous year. Goals are pushed forward and we promise to do better.
Action – The new moon phase comes every 29.5 days, so basically once a month. By making a moon phase goal instead of one year’s resolution, the goal instantly becomes more actionable and appears more attainable. Instead of declaring that you want to lose weight, you can say that by the time of the next new moon, or full moon, or whatever kind of moon you choose, that you will lose 5 pounds. This is specific, includes a realistic timeframe, and is something that is doable.
Achieving success in one goal builds momentum towards continuing the process and setting new goals. A series of successes leads to a big success at the end, and is less daunting in scope.
Steps – You can do anything for 30 days. You can quit smoking, stop eating sugar, quit drinking alcohol, walk for at least 30 minutes every day, or stop snacking at night. Limiting the goal to 30 days provides your brain with an out, a realization that this behaviour isn’t for eternity. After 30 days you can decide what you want to do, whether it is modifying the goal or continuing to do it.
Start this by choosing one goal, not ten. Decide today that for the next 30 days, according to the current phase of the moon, that you want to do something. If weight loss is your goal, declaring that you want to lose weight isn’t enough. Instead, say that the goal is not to eat any refined sugar. Or the goal could be to exercise at least every other day, never taking off two days in a row. Look towards something you want as opposed to trying to get away from something you don’t want.
Why It Makes You Feel Better – You won’t realize how much making small changes can affect the way you feel. Even losing 5 pounds can make a difference in how your clothes fit, the amount of energy you have, and how your body feels. The sense of accomplishment you get from setting a small goal and achieving it is massive and can inspire you to keep going.
Example – The new moon phase is a great time to take action, while after the full moon is the perfect time to make plans. While coordinating your efforts to make changes with the cycles of the moon might seem unnecessary, it is a way of setting a concrete timeline that can keep you focused. I have done various goals using this method, including giving up sugar, meditating every day, walking daily, and writing.
There is nothing you can’t do if it is important enough to you, and you can handle anything for 30 days. Or 29.5 days, to be exact. What will your next new moon look like?