Choice #1: Do I Start My New Year's Resolution Tomorrow? Or Monday?

January 1st, 2025

It’s impossible to avoid the lingering resolution cloud that stalks you relentlessly, looming overhead and whispering, “This is the year that I ___” or “I’m really going to start exercising this year.” Quite frankly, it’s inevitable to be thinking about it. Whether it’s through social media, where people share their goals, or during lunch hour at work when the fridge suddenly overflows with homemade salads in Tupperware containers, the topic is unavoidable.

So, of course, I couldn’t help but ask myself: What are my resolutions? And that brought me to my very first dilemma of the year—Do I start my New Year's resolutions today? Or wait until Monday?

For me, this New Year snuck up out of nowhere, landing smack in the middle of the week. Thankfully, I’m one of those corporate robots who gets to enjoy the holiday off. But let’s be honest—it was spent sleeping in and cleaning up from the previous night’s festivities. The day felt more like a migraine hangover after a fun Saturday night in college than a fresh start. Knowing I needed to be gussied up and ready for work the next day only added to the gloom, as it meant the holidays had officially come to an end.

I know I’m not alone in this feeling. The end of the holidays seems to cast a gray shade over most people I know. But, for the first time in a while, I hadn’t actually sat with my thoughts to reflect on my resolutions for 2025. Instead, this is what was running through my mind as I tackled mundane chores:

• Welp, it’s the first day of the year. I better make sure I add lettuce to my Whole Foods pickup order this afternoon... (sweeps pile of firework debris into a dustpan)

• Maybe that’s it. I’ll go back to being vegetarian this year... (sprays Lysol on the counter)

• Or maybe just eating healthy for January... (wipes the counter with a rag)

• Speaking of January, should I do Dry January? (vacuums carpet in straight lines)

  
  

It was clear I didn’t have a solid set of goals. But I did feel pressured to start immediately because it was the monumental day of the year. I even thought about posting on social media: “Day 1 of vegetarianism!” to keep myself accountable (as if the world deeply cared whether I stuck to my vegetarian goals). Thankfully, I resisted the urge to post and instead decided to wait until I had a proper plan with ingredients and recipes to get started.

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As I lay on the couch scrolling through Weight Watchers recipes, colorful salad bowls on Pinterest, and the curated meals of Instagram influencers, I became overwhelmed. “Oh no, Whole Foods is out of chickpeas! What now? Two of my saved recipes are ruined, and I have to start searching again.” That’s when I hit my big question:

Do I start my New Year’s resolutions today? Or wait until Monday?

Here’s how my internal debate unfolded:

• If I start on Monday, I’ll already be a few days into January 2025. Does that even count as a New Year’s resolution?

• If I had a penny for every time I said, ‘I’ll start Monday,’ I wouldn’t be filtering my grocery search by ‘deals of the week.’

• So what now? If I say I’ll start Monday, does that mean I go wild for the rest of the week? Forget lettuce—I’m getting coffee ice cream instead.

  
  

And then my thoughts shifted:

• Monday could be great, though. I could shop at the farmers’ market on Saturday and plan my meals properly.

• I’m still fighting off a cold and recovering from a tooth extraction earlier this week (more on that later). Starting Monday would give me a chance to feel better health-wise.

• Do I even want to be vegetarian again? I gave it a solid three-year run, but is that what I truly want, or am I just blurting out random goals? If I start Monday, I can take time to figure out what I genuinely want to accomplish.

  
  

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Do I start my New Year’s resolutions today? Or wait until Monday?

Answer: Monday—and here’s why.

I felt immense pressure from those around me to jump into the New Year with a fresh start. But honestly, I wasn’t ready. This holiday season was chaotic—between late-night festivities, family-wide illnesses, and emergency dental work, there wasn’t much relaxation. By January 1st, I was exhausted, like so many others. Giving myself a few extra days to step back and define my goals felt like the better approach.

By waiting until Monday, I could set myself up for success. There’s a quote in Atomic Habits by James Clear that says: “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” It’s a reminder that success comes from creating systems and habits to support your goals—not just wishing for results.

If you, like me, find yourself a few days into January 2025 still unclear about your goals or when to start, maybe this is your sign to begin Monday. Or Sunday. Or Tuesday. Or even February! Go at your own pace. Sure, people around you might already be posting gym selfies or making major life changes. That’s okay. Take a breath. They’re running their race at their own speed—be happy for their wins while focusing on your own.

Let's make 2025 the best year yet y'all!