It’s the beginning of January and you’ve already lost the motivation to keep with your ‘new year new me’ mantra. We get it. We’re all human here, so don’t beat yourself up about it. But just the same, don’t completely give up hope yet. Just because you missed a week of workouts or eating healthy doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world. Whatever your New Year’s resolution is and no matter how hard of a time you’re having to keep up with it: this is your big push to force you to get going. Get up, get on with your life and make life happen.

I can’t tell you how many times this exact same thing occurs to me each and every year. The idea that I miserably fail at my ‘fresh start’ without fail is a little something that puts a damper on anyone’s mood. But here’s a secret that not many people will let you in on you don’t need a New Year for a new start. You don’t need the clock to change from 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2016, to 12:00 a.m. January 1, 2016. All it takes is the initiative to make a change in your life, whether that be today, tomorrow, or right now.

If you missed the bus on making a New Year’s resolution, you can still make one now, no one is going to try and stop you. It’s cliché to say, but it’s fitting: the only thing standing between you and your goals is you. You are your biggest hypocrite and most of the time when it comes down to it, people aren’t looking too closely because they’re too worried about what they look like in others eyes. So don’t take this ‘resolution’ thing too seriously, it’s just something to give a name to what you want to achieve.

You have the chance to start over whenever you want. If you’re tired of your unhealthy eating habits, don’t wait till something big in your life happens to start your journey, start now. Even if it’s a simple as dressing nicer or keeping up with your school work more efficiently I plead that you grab your goals by the reins and run for the hills while you still have the brand new streak of motivation with you.

And when times get tough, keep going. You may skip some days (on purpose, not on accident. don’t even TRY to lie to yourself here), or have a few cheat days, and that’s okay because you deserve it and not everyone is perfect here. Heck, NO ONE is perfect here, and anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is a big fat liar. So even if it’s been more than a week since you last checked in with that resolution, I encourage you to visit it again. You made it up for a reason (I suppose), so why not try to stick with it? You may end up thanking yourself later on in life whether that be in a few months or a few years. Stick to it, and it will be worth it in the end, promise.