We do. And the main reason is because it has a great sense of clean, fresh start about it. Somehow the start of a new calendar year makes us realise that we can start something; something we’ve put off, something that’s important to us, something we’ve started before but not completed so far, something we really want. We can wipe the slate clean, we can change something, make a new mark – we can find the energy to turn things around, to start afresh.
We are not keen on ‘New Year’s resolutions’ though.
They tend to become a threat and a slow or fast journey towards failure (research shows that 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail). They could work though – if we called them something different or if we used them differently – as a great possibility, as an encouragement, as a carrot and a lever.
Although this is not about resolutions, so let us instead get back to the magic of New Year’s Day.
You could argue that the problem with all other days is that they are not New Year’s Day; that they don’t give us that same sense of hope and opportunity that 1 January brings.
So let’s make every day New Year’s Day! Every day is a fresh, clean start – if we choose to look at it that way. It’s never too late or too early to act on our dreams, our aspirations, our interests and passions.
Take that day with you throughout the year. Make every day New Year’s Day; keep the clear outlook, the hope and the drive of that 1st precious day of the year. Learn from yesterday, take from it what you can; learning, insights, results – and move forward with curiosity and joy. Anything can happen – and often does.
What do you want to happen? And how will you make it happen?
We will start by treating ourselves to a leisurely day, full of joy and relaxation, and opportunities to recharge. Yes, if there is something I will start this New Year’s Day with, it’s the insight that to achieve anything, you need to take time to take care of yourself too. Too many people are just busy running, running, running; trying to do everything. They have the ‘busybug’. And it’s not a very effective use of time and resources.
Think about it this way: When you fly, the cabin crew will tell you something like: “In the unlikely event of the cabin pressure dropping, oxygen masks will appear. Before helping anyone else, please secure your own mask”.
And in these simple little instructions lies great wisdom – whatever we want to achieve, for others, for the world, for ourselves – we need to look after the instrument that is us, to recharge and refuel, to “sharpen our saw” so that we have something to give. We’re no use to anyone else if we have simply passed out (from lack of oxygen, energy or steam).
So it’s ‘oxygen mask’ on for me on this New Year’s Day. Go ahead, you do it too! Here’s to a great 2026!
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