Starting Is One Thing, Momentum Is Another
Many people know that Sir Isaac Newton’s first law of motion states that “An object at rest will stay at rest and an object in motion will stay in motion unless acted on by a net external force.” Far fewer people know that Newton’s second law states that “The rate of change of momentum of a body over time is directly proportional to the force applied, and occurs in the same direction as the applied force.” While these laws are specifically referring to classical objects, I believe we can lean on them to examine our actions as leaders.
As the calendar turns to a new year, many people make resolutions, vowing changes for the better in their behaviors, actions and habits. January marks the busiest time of the year for gyms when it can be difficult to find a vacant treadmill. “Dry January” and “Veganuary” have become popular among those looking to improve what they put in their bodies. And Goodwill is typically flooded with donations from those looking to organize and simplify their lives (we love you Marie Kondo). But as quickly as the new year sparks these fantastic changes and begins an object in motion - external forces intervene and stop that motion just as quickly. Research shows that of the 50% of Americans who set New Year’s resolutions, only 10% continue them past three months! So what gives?
The main thing that I’ve realized is that sprints aren’t sustainable. When I ran track in high school, I dreaded the days of sprint work outs. I remember running 10x200s where we would have to run all out for 200 meters, then walk 200 meters making a complete lap around the track only to do it again nine more times. We had two minutes for each lap and the actual workout took only about 20 minutes, but it left all of us exhausted and if we weren’t laying on the ground by the end of it, we were hovering over a trash can losing our lunch. Too many people set a resolution that is equivalent to a sprint. Sure it’s possible for a short period of time, but it will leave you frustrated and suck all of your energy pretty quickly.
Instead of going all out right out of the gate, I’ve found it’s much better to set a reasonable goal that you can build on throughout the year, creating momentum that makes it sustainable and takes it from a short term accomplishment to a life changing habit. I know if I want to stop eating so many sweets, I can go cold turkey and avoid ice cream for a month, but that will probably only lead to a binge of six flavors on February 1st. However, if I commit to only eating ice cream twice a week (I love ice cream), I know I can sustain that for a much longer period of time and after three months, I can use the momentum I’ve created to move that to once a week. By leveling down (or up in some cases) we make big goals more attainable for a longer period of time.
If we want to create momentum for our goals for the new year and make meaningful changes in our lives, we should remember Newton’s second law. We can’t apply a greater amount of force over time, if we apply all we can give at the beginning. As you set your new year’s resolutions, I challenge you to ease into them and think about how you can gradually build momentum to create greater force and impact throughout the whole year and not simply sprint for three months before crashing back to where you started.
*Each week I share a leadership message with our team and we are honored to share it with you via MIBE Tribe. MIBE (the acronym for Make It Better Everyday) Tribe delivers education on heart leadership and intentional culture building for the hospitality industry.