Simply put, the whole "New Year, New Me" thing that everybody does these days does not work.

It's nice and a bonus to kick the new year off in a positive mindset, but is December 31st really different from January 1st? Or even May 15th, July 25th, or October 7th? (Literally speaking, they are different. You got me on that one, but you know what I mean.) Surely enough I am still motivated for change, just not particularly on January 1st.

From my experience, a "New Year, New Me" investment has never quite worked out nor have I seen it ever work out for anybody as a matter of fact. Admittedly I have done as most of us have. I have set the goal to lose weight, to be a better friend, or to be a better son. Ultimately I have come up short. Perhaps its the aspect of the cliche phrase becoming a social norm in which those around us influence us to feel the need for change as well. Maybe you really do have something that you want to change about yourself to become the "New You" in the new year. I understand, but I have one question.

Why wait for the "New Year" to have a "New You"?

Change does not come from the changing numbers on the calendar year, it comes from you. Society can influence us to set a goal and to tag along for the ride with those around us, but that influence is of little assistance when it comes to the execution of your new you. Most new year plans for change come to an abrupt halt after, from my experience, a matter of weeks. Perhaps a diligent person can keep it up for a month in which I applaud, quite jealous actually.

Do not wait for the new year to change something that you feel needs to be changed. Start today. Set a goal and make a plan because if it is truly important to you, you will not delay. I have found this to become a good platform when searching if something is worth the change or not. If it is, it adds fuel to the fire and I am motivated enough to cause change immediately rather then the wait for January 1st. All good changes begin with a plan of action, something many "New Year, New Me" plans lack. Plans along with actions upon those plans are good movement towards permanent change, something that will last for time rather than the matter of weeks that typical "New Me" feeble attempts last.

Put a purpose behind the New You, not the fact that it is a New Year.

This bit of personal assistance will help in the long run, as it always has for me. Motivation is not given from the calendar just because it is a new year, rather it comes from within. Find a purpose, a reasoning, a motive. This will do far more for your motivation than the fact that it is a New Year. Find something personal. You may have to dig deep and filter through that jam-packed mind, dig through the stress and surpass the worries, to find a purpose. When you do I promise it will do more for you then you can imagine. Not only will a purpose provide motivation to stay persistent, but a purpose will also increase the invaluable feeling of success when you finally achieve your goal.

Instead of "New Year, New Me" think with the mindset of "New Day, Better Me."

Again, "New Year" has little effect on anybody, especially myself. I have seen it as I am sure you have as well, perhaps you have even experienced the crash of a "New Year, New Me" yourself and returned to your old ways. The catchphrase is cool, I agree, and something to tell your friends about until the initial flurry of the new year feelings wear off. For true change, you need more than a catchphrase. So begin with what you want to change, find a purpose for that change, and start today rather than the New Year.

This all feeds my motivation for change both within myself and those around me. Throughout the year I am always motivated and moved to change and better myself, as you should be as well. Look for motivation around you and within yourself in all months, not just January, and seek that motivation for change and betterment. I can do it, you can as well. I believe in you.