5 Reasons Why It's So Important To Make At Least One Significant Change In Your Life Every Year
It's time to mix things up a bit.
Candice Picard on Unsplash When January 1 rolls around it signals the beginning of a new year and with that comes the one thing everyone does: make resolutions. Whether it be to lose weight, work out more or picking up that old hobby again, we always try to make some sort of change. But two weeks later, we’re back to the same old routine we’ve been doing for the other 351 days.
Now that we're half-way through the year, it can be hard to find constant motivation to do things, especially when life keeps getting in the way. A lot of times we come up with excuses like “well I’m too tired,” or “I’ll do it later.” And maybe we really do mean it, that we will do it later, but a lot of times that’s not the case.
Things don't get done, new years resolutions slip to the wayside and we ease back into life as we've known it.
I think the biggest issue here isn’t even the motivation, but rather, the timing. People use New Year’s to reinvent themselves because it’s a new year. The thing is though, it’s not like you have to start on the first day.
There’s a massive misconception that the only time to change must be on that first day of January.
The thing is, you can actually start any time. It doesn’t have to be January, it doesn’t have to be a new month, and it doesn’t even have to be “I’ll start Monday.” Start whenever you feel like it!
The point is, change it so important for our lives. It can help us rediscover something about ourselves or give us a new perspective. Contrary to some people’s beliefs, change is good. If no one ever changed, we’d still be stuck in the Stone Age because that guy that invented the wheel would’ve been too stubborn to do so.
So here are five reasons why it’s important for you to make a significant change in your life every single year — no matter what day it is.
1. Aren’t you bored?
I know that there are some people out there that are perfectly content with spending their lives doing the same thing over and over again. But assuming you’re not someone like that, I’ll repeat the same question: aren’t you bored?
Going about your day in the same way all the time isn’t going to accomplish anything. You’re basically just going in a circle. Instead of packing your lunch, try that new restaurant down the street. Or how about trying that outfit you’ve been unsure of? Mixing things up can do wonders for both your work and personal life.
2. Everything around you will change, so you might as well embrace it.
This is a fact of life. Nothing stays the same. Ever. If it did, the world map wouldn’t look the way it does today. Someone had to go out there and set those borders. If nothing changed, the tectonic plates that shaped modern-day continents wouldn’t have moved, cars wouldn’t even exist and phones would still be the size of your face.
The old woods that your parents talk about got turned into a neighborhood, businesses keeping opening and closing and eventually that team that’s perennially bad will be good. The world doesn’t stop turning, so why should you?
3. Seeking adventure keeps you young.
So often we’d rather just stay in our comfort zone than actually take a chance. While comfort is all well and good, you’re not going to see much of anything that way. I know change can be scary, but it’s only by taking a chance that we find the things we truly love. And when you really think about it, everything we first did was a chance. Making a new friend, applying for a job, buying a new house. These are all things that were risks, but you did them anyway.
No true adventure was ever found by sitting on your couch. Go and take a chance on something new, no matter how scary it may sound. It could be skydiving or traveling to a country hardly anyone knows. Just put your fear aside and do something that you think could be fun.
4. It can bring you perspective.
If you feel like you’ve been stuck in a rut, there’s no better time to change. Making a change in your life can make things better for you. A good example of this is when you get out of a relationship. People tend to do all sorts of things differently. They change their hair, make grand plans and chase after dreams. Life-altering events have a huge effect on us.
I’m not saying you have to breakup with someone to achieve this though. But, notice how when that change occurred, your point of view on life changed as well. It’s all about perspective. One change made and what you thought was impossible is now suddenly possible.
5. Change is good for you.
Lastly, I want to repeat this: change is good. Whether change makes your life better or worse, you still learn from your new experiences. It’s okay to fear the unknown, but don’t run from it. Embrace it. Know that once you do something different, your life will be different too. Who knows, you might just find out you love it.
Jesse Oakley is a writer who writes about love, relationships and self-care.