I’m going to...! Sound familiar?

How many times have you told yourself… "I’m going to start…" or "I’m going to do…"? You’re completely convinced and motivated at that moment. But after a few days, as if by magic, that new goal you were so certain you wanted to achieve disappears.

For many of us, September comes filled with "I’m going to...": "I’m going to start an English course," "No, wait, I’m going to start going to the gym in the afternoons," "I’m going to go on a diet," "I’m going to work with a coach," "I’m going to start walking," and so on.

Why does the "I’m going to..." mindset activate in September? One reason is habit, the routine, the learned experience of: September marks the start of a new school year, and I’m going to learn or do new things. That feeling, repeated year after year, leaves a memory in our minds and bodies that, if not relived, makes us feel like something is missing. That’s when the impulse to do something new arises, because, year after year, that’s what we’ve grown used to.

The strong emotional memory (whether positive or negative) of starting school each September activates automatically with the new season, autumn.

Not everyone feels this way, but it’s proven that September, along with January (when new year’s resolutions kick in), is one of the months with the highest sales for gyms, academies, yoga schools, and all kinds of courses.

How can we harness the "I’m going to..." momentum and avoid giving up?

We start the month with real thoughts of achieving something, full of energy and ready to go. Let’s use an example (fictional): Manuel has been thinking for a while that his unhealthy lifestyle will eventually catch up with him. Back in December, he considered starting at a gym; he even visited one and inquired about prices, but, without knowing why, the idea and conviction lost steam and vanished. "Now is the time," he says, fully convinced. He joins the gym, pays the registration fee, and starts enthusiastically. After a couple of weeks, he notices he’s gaining strength and losing some weight. But by the third week, he skips sessions due to work commitments. The next week, he goes for half an hour, and the following week, he steps on the scale and sees he’s regained all the weight he lost. Conclusion: Manuel doesn’t return to the gym.

Several factors influence our ability to achieve a goal or bring about change:

• Fear of failure: "I won’t start because if I don’t succeed, what will people think? Why did I waste my time?"

• Lack of confidence: "I’ll just quit after two months anyway..."

• Comfort zone: "Ugh... if I do this, I’ll have to give up..."

• Breaking habits: We’re used to one way of doing things, and it’s hard to change or try something new.

• Lack of a clear goal: Without a clear goal, we don’t understand the benefits we’ll gain from starting.

• Procrastination: Whether from laziness or not knowing where to begin.

  
  

So, how can we minimize these factors and actually achieve what we set out to do?

1. Set a clear goal and understand why you’re doing it.For example: Manuel wants to start exercising because he’s decided to improve his health. He leads a sedentary lifestyle, and his recent blood test results weren’t great.The SMART goal framework works well:

   • S (Specific): What exactly do you want to achieve? "Improve my health."

   • M (Measurable): How will you know you’ve reached your goal? "Lose 5 kilos, increase muscle mass to 40%, reduce fat to 18%, and improve my blood test results."

   • A (Achievable): Is it realistic? "Okay, I’ll start with 3 kilos."

   • R (Relevant): Is it important to you? "It’s important to live longer and better."

   • T (Time-bound): Set a clear deadline. "I’ll give myself six months."

2. Break your goal into smaller steps.Without this, we risk expecting results too quickly, even though they often take time. Breaking it down helps prevent impatience from derailing us.For example: "This first month, I’ll aim to lose 1 kilo." Setting short-term goals helps create a more realistic path.

3. Create a weekly, monthly, etc., plan.Make a plan that’s realistic and helps you stay disciplined.

4. Prepare for moments of weakness.When you’re tempted to procrastinate or quit, remind yourself of your goal and the benefits you’ll gain. If necessary, revise your plan, but do so from a place of personal responsibility and awareness—don’t fool yourself.

   
   

Now you know how to harness the power of September to start and stick with what you want to achieve. If you think you need help, a coach can assist in keeping you on track. Good luck, and go for it!

Image by Freepik

Melinda Sánchez Coach

www.melindasanchezcoach.com