Fresh Starts: How to Use Landmark Dates to Spark a Change

You want to make a change in your life, but you don’t know when to get started.

In theory, every day is a clean slate. We can choose to wake up on any given morning and begin to make new choices on how we live our lives, including what we do, what we say, what we eat, etc.

Of course that’s easier said than done. In many ways, we’re all hypnotized. We wake up and go through our daily routines like zombies. We repeat the same actions over and over again, because that’s what we’re used to and these patterns are deeply ingrained into our brains.

So how do we spark a change?

One helpful tip is to choose a landmark date for your new habit. This special day will serve as a salient starting point to make a change in your life. You can think of it as the demarcation point between your “old self” and “new self.”

Throughout the course of a year, there are many dates we can use as a starting point for self-change. Each of these days can be viewed as a blank slate giving us the opportunity to move forward in a more positive direction.

Here’s a list of popular landmark dates you can use as a catalyst for self-improvement.

How to Use Landmark Dates to Spark a Change

• First day of the week – The beginning of the week is one of the most common days to start a change in your daily routine. Often people will set goals such as, “I’ll start going to the gym on Monday,” or “I’ll start that new diet on Monday.” There are 52 Mondays in any given year, so that’s 52 opportunities for a fresh start.
• First day of the month – The beginning of a new month can also be excellent motivation for self-change. You can dedicate the entire month to a “30 Day Challenge,” such as “I’ll do push ups every day this month,” or “I’ll write in a journal every day this month,” or “I’ll do one act of kindness every day this month.” Make sure to track your progress and try your best. Keep going even if you miss a day or two.
• Start of a new season – The first day of Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer can also spark growth and transformation. New seasons come with a natural change in weather, clothing, and personal habits – and you can embrace that shift in your environment to ignite a change in yourself. Common seasonal goals include a tidying marathon at the beginning of spring (“spring cleaning”), or setting fitness goals at the start of the summer (“beach ready”), or reconnecting with family and friends during winter holidays.
• Start of a new year – The most popular day for self-improvement is the beginning of the new year. Most people get excited to make “new years resolutions,” and the start of a brand new year can often feel like the perfect time to get rid of bad habits or start new ones. While we can definitely use this energy to motivate ourselves, be careful not to get too caught up in the hype. Most people have more fun talking about their “new years resolutions” than actually following through on them. Still, this can be an excellent landmark date if you take it seriously. You can also check out my New Years Worksheet (PDF) for a more unconventional start to your year.
• Birthdays – Your birthday is another powerful opportunity for self-improvement. Unlike the dates above, your birthday is unique to you which gives it a special flavor of motivation and inspiration. Milestone ages (like 30, 40, 50, etc.) can feel especially significant and give you an extra incentive to begin making changes depending on what stage of life you’re in.
• Anniversaries – Celebrating anniversaries can also be an opportunity to start fresh. Couples should revisit their values, goals, and priorities each year and use it as motivation to continue building on their relationship and sharing new experiences. Use this time of the year to go on vacation together, exchange meaningful gifts, go on a nice date, or recommit yourself to showing more love and affection in the future.
• Moving into a new home – If you end up moving somewhere new, that’s a great time to make big changes to your life. A completely new environment can have a huge psychological effect on us. New home, new furniture, new decorations, and a new neighborhood can function as a hard reset to your entire life. You get to leave all the past associations and triggers from your old home behind and start building a whole new set of habits and behaviors. While these major changes can take time to adjust to, they also present the opportunity to change your whole lifestyle.
• Start of a new job – The first day at a new job can also be a big reset. It often comes with changes to your schedule, which gives you the chance to start building a new daily routine. You’ll also be starting new relationships with coworkers, managers, bosses, and clients, which allows you to start these new connections on a positive note.
• Start of a new semester – If you’re a student, the beginning of a new semester can serve as a similar fresh start, including new relationships with teachers and classmates. If you’ve struggled during past semesters, now is a great time to pull yourself together, keep up with homework and assignments, and dedicate more time to studying and performing better on exams. Add in a couple healthy habits, such as going to bed earlier, exercising more often, or partying less, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a better person.

Each of these landmark dates can symbolize a new “blank slate” that promotes growth and improvement.

Which one resonates with you the most? Are there any upcoming landmark dates you can take advantage of? Choose one, set a small and realistic goal, then take that powerful step forward!

There are always new opportunities to start fresh, we just have to be open to them.

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