January Hype Fades - A Simpler Way to Last

As-salāmu ʿalaykum - January 4th and the gyms are full. Big plans have been made. By January 15th, most of those plans are quietly dropped. We often call that a lack of willpower. I think there's another reason. Resolutions are usually made at the worst time. On December 31st we're tired from celebrations, maybe a little off, and not thinking clearly. We declare who we’re going to become. Then January comes. Work resumes, routines resume. That 5 a.m. workout suddenly seems impossible - not because we’re weak, but because we’re exhausted and trying to remake ourselves overnight. There’s a deeper issue: Many resolutions are actually punishment dressed up as goals. “I’ll work out every day” = I don’t like my body, so I’ll force it. “I’ll be super productive” = I’m not enough, so I must do more. “I’ll finally get organized” = My life is chaotic and I’m ashamed. No wonder they fail. They start from self-criticism and expect that to sustain change. Instead, I tried something else: I began noting who I really am. I reflected on my true interests, watched my real habits, and let ideas grow from what I actually enjoy and keep returning to, not what I think I should want. In my notes and unfinished projects I found hints of what truly mattered to me. When I built around those things instead of against them, change became easier. I gained clarity. I’m not saying don’t set goals. Maybe the first goal should be understanding yourself well enough to choose goals that fit who you really are. May Allah make our efforts sincere and steady.