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New Year Resolutions Suck So Forget About Them

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At the beginning of the year, we humans seems to love, coming up with our New Year Resolutions. It’s seems by magic that the change of a few numbers on the clock that is our life should make us change our entire vision for the future.

If you’re waiting for the time to be right to make a list of resolutions, then I’m afraid to tell you that your chances of success are very small. It’s never the right time to do anything. To break it down in simple terms, A New Year Resolution is when you agree with yourself to change an undesired trait or behavior.

Here are 5 reasons why I believe New Year Resolutions suck and are sabotaging your success: 

1. You haven’t asked why

This whole resolutions game sounds good in theory. Other than it being a New Year, you really need to ask yourself “Why the heck am I trying to do this?” If you do want to change something about yourself then why haven’t you already taken action?

Focusing on changing parts of yourself that you don’t like and only committing to do so once a year is pointless. Every day you should be striving to become just a tiny bit better; not once a year where you come up with the dream and then sit on it until the next New Year.

I believe that you have the power to be so much more and that you need to finally find what is going to drive you. Once you know what drives you, you don’t need to bother with silly little exercises like New Year Resolutions that some of the failures you know like to indulge in for a few weeks.

2. Life resolutions are way more powerful 

My advice would be: Whatever everyone else is doing, do the opposite. In the case of resolutions, everybody else is indulging in them, so I think you should set a “Life Resolution” instead. Buck the trend and commit to lifelong action that is going to change the entire direction of your life.

Write down the parts of yourself you want to change and the tasks you want to complete, and blow those bad boys out of the water! Do it with a sense of courage and purpose. Visualise how fantastic your life can be.

3. You haven’t set small resolutions you can build on

Trying to set a resolution of going to the gym for the first time in ten years to get your health on track is just too big for 98% of people. When you wake up on Monday morning to get started something is going to get in the way, and you’ll be thinking that you can’t execute on your 2-hour session.

If I just told you to go for a 5-minute run every day instead, I’m sure you would probably give it a go. Chunk it right down and don’t over-think it. Don’t worry if you haven’t got gym clothes or a drink bottle; go as you are and build on your small successes. You can thank me later.

4. It’s easier to be comfortable

There’s a high probability that everyone around you is comfortable and damn happy about it. So if everyone else is comfortable, then there is a good chance that you’ll be motivated to do the same.

“The trouble with comfortable is that in at some destination point in the future you are going to crash and burn”

You are going to realise that this life hasn’t meant what you thought it would mean. This is a horrible feeling, and that’s what setting New Year Resolutions is going to give you. You won’t execute, and you’ll become comfortable.

Speaking from experience, the results that comfortable people get suck big time. You’re going to need a lot of junk food, sugar, and alcohol to help you keep aimlessly walking in the direction of the hopeless. That’s not you, so let’s get serious this year.

5. Your resolutions are all about you

Like a parrot, I’m going to tell you again that success is not about you. The problem with these ridiculous resolutions is that they generally focus on you and are all about you. What’s crazy though is that the success you are looking for is found in what you can resolve to do for others.

Are you going to inspire someone finally? Are you prepared to give all of yourself to make the world a better place? If you’re not, then unhappiness is almost guaranteed. No set of New Years Resolutions is going to fill that massive void that exists in your heart and mind because you haven’t yet understood that it’s not about you.

Don’t get angry that you’ve missed all of your New years Resolutions for the last five years; get angry that you still haven’t given every ounce of energy that you have to a cause that you care about. Get angry that you are still being selfish and focusing on yourself.

I’m sitting here in an office, on a hot Australian day sweating my ass off so that I can bring you the advice that I think will finally get you to take action. I’m going to keep chipping away at your mind until I strike gold and you get the point.

I want the rest of this year to be a joy for you, and that will only come if we throw away the short-term success that is feeding dopamine to your brain along with your social media notifications, and we focus on the future of you.

You were chosen to be here and to be a person of influence. It’s no mistake that you are on a site full of game changers who want to change the world and transform lives. Just being here though is not enough. I want you to share your story and everything you’ve learned.

I want you to be comfortable with being vulnerable enough to put all your cards on the table for the benefit and learning of others. If you were raped, beaten, cheated, lied to, stolen from, you got hooked on drugs, whatever you’ve been through, it’s time to stop hiding.

The world wants to get to know you, and they want to learn from you. Most of all, they want to be inspired by your story so that they can make it through the same challenges you have. What’s crazy is that all of our problems and disappointments are the same. Yours, mine, your neighbors are all interlinked. The majority of this pain is something that we are choosing to suffer from.

Your story is different, and that’s why you are here. You’ve given up on suffering, you’ve accepted the pain, and you want to rise up. You want to be an angel in the lives of others and make people smile.

“Those smiles you create are the currency of your newfound success”

These new smiles are at the root of what is growing inside of you and dying to be unleashed on the world. Don’t keep living in the La La Land that is New Year Resolutions. It’s been long enough, my friend. This year is your time to break through and crush your goals finally.

Are you going to decide today to make a life resolution instead? Let me know on my website timdenning.net or my Facebook.

Aussie Blogger with 500M+ views — Writer for CNBC & Business Insider. Inspiring the world through Personal Development and Entrepreneurship You can connect with Tim through his website www.timdenning.com

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Boost your focus, confidence, and results with 11 powerful habits successful people use every day.

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Successful people love to help beginners. They have an incredible work ethic and rarely complain. As a result, others naturally look up to them and want to follow in their footsteps.

But here’s the truth: there’s no success without sacrifice. You’ll need to give up comfort, excuses, and sometimes even social approval to accomplish your goals.

Value comes from solving problems, and these 11 powerful tips will help you become more productive, successful, and confident, starting today.

1. Take Short Breaks After Finishing a Task

Psychology shows it’s important to reward positive behaviour.

After completing a big task or finishing a book, take five minutes to walk, stretch, or simply breathe. This quick reset helps your brain recharge and strengthens focus.

Many great writers swear by morning walks, solitude, and reflection can unlock creativity.

But if you refuse to take breaks, don’t be surprised when burnout hits. Your brain needs recovery time just as much as your body does.

2. Schedule Your Most Important Tasks First

Multitasking kills productivity. If you want to get more done, try time blocking, a method where you dedicate set periods for specific tasks.

Productivity expert Caitlin Hughes explains, “Time blocking involves scheduling blocks of time for your tasks throughout the day.”

For example, if you’re a writer:

  • Research your topic at night.

  • Write your first draft in the morning (don’t worry if it’s rough).

  • Edit in the afternoon, great writing comes from rewriting.

You can’t buy more time. Use it intentionally and without regret.

3. Eliminate Distractions from Your Workspace

Focus is the foundation of success.

According to Inc. Magazine, it takes an average of 23 minutes to recover from a distraction. That’s nearly half an hour of lost productivity every time you check your phone.

Put your phone away. Close unnecessary tabs. And yes, limit your Netflix binges.

Meeting deadlines consistently is one of the fastest ways to stand out and earn respect.

4. Take Full Responsibility for Your Life

Entrepreneur Derek Sivers once said, “Everything is my fault.”

This mindset doesn’t mean self-blame; it means self-ownership. Stop pointing fingers, making excuses, or waiting for others to change.

If your habits (like smoking or drinking too much) hold you back, it’s time to make better choices. Your friends can’t live your dreams for you; only you can.

5. Invest an Hour a Day in Learning New Skills

Knowledge compounds over time.

Whether you read books, take online courses, or practise a craft, consistent learning gives you a competitive edge.

I used to struggle with academic writing, but I improved by studying the work of great authors and applying what I learned.

Your past doesn’t define you; your actions do. Every new skill adds another tool to your arsenal and makes you more unstoppable.

6. Develop a Growth Mindset

Psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck introduced the concept of fixed vs. growth mindset.

  • A fixed mindset believes success is based on natural talent.

  • A growth mindset believes success comes from effort and learning.

Choose the growth mindset. Embrace challenges. See failures as feedback. In today’s fast-moving digital world, adaptability is your biggest advantage.

7. Learn Marketing to Reach People Who Need You

I once believed marketing was manipulative, until I realised it’s about helping people solve problems.

If your work provides genuine value, marketing is how you let others know it exists. Even Apple spends billions on it.

Don’t be ashamed to promote your skills or business. Without visibility, your ideas will never reach the people who need them most.

Creative professionals who understand marketing and sales have an unfair advantage.

8. Ask Your Mentor the Right Questions

Good mentors can fast-track your growth.

While mentorship often costs money, it’s one of the best investments you can make. Great mentors don’t care about titles; they care about your progress.

If you don’t have access to a mentor yet, books are your silent mentors. Read the best in your field, take notes, and apply what resonates.

9. Build Confidence Through Action, Not Affirmations

Author Ryan Holiday once said, “I don’t believe in myself. I have evidence.”

Confidence doesn’t come from shouting affirmations into the mirror; it comes from proof. Doing hard things, keeping promises to yourself, and following through.

When you consistently take action, your brain gathers evidence that you can handle whatever comes next. That’s real confidence, grounded, earned, and unshakable.

10. Focus on Your Strengths

Your strengths reveal where your greatest impact lies.

If people compliment you on something often, it’s a clue. Lean into it.

A former professor once told me I was creative, and that simple comment gave me the confidence to go all in. I studied creativity, applied it daily, and turned it into my career advantage.

Double down on your strengths. That’s how you build momentum and mastery.

11. Identify and Challenge Your Limiting Beliefs

Your beliefs shape your reality.

For years, I believed I couldn’t be a great writer because of my chronic tinnitus and astigmatism, sensory challenges that made concentration difficult. But over time, I realised those struggles made me more disciplined, observant, and empathetic.

Your limitations can become your greatest motivators if you let them.

Avoid shortcuts. Growth takes time, but it’s always worth it.

Final Thoughts

Becoming productive, successful, and confident isn’t about working harder than everyone else. It’s about working smarter, consistently, and intentionally.

You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Start small: take a break after your next task, schedule your priorities, or spend one hour learning something new.

Every habit you change compounds into long-term success. Remember, true change comes from practising new behaviours.

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