New Year, Who Dis? How to Build Momentum That Actually Lasts

Janine Bowen
5 days ago
2 min read

This month’s check-in topic was Momentum, because by now those “New Year, New You” resolutions have faded faster than a January gym membership swipe. The motivation that felt so loud on January 1st gets quieter once real life starts talking back, work gets busy, routines get messy, energy dips, and suddenly the goals we were excited about feel… far.

But here’s what I reminded my peeps (and what I’m reminding you): momentum isn’t motivation. Momentum is what carries you when motivation doesn’t show up. It’s the skill of continuing, imperfectly, consistently, and on purpose.

That’s why we focused on building momentum with one core principle: progress over perfection. Not “all or nothing.” Not “I missed a day, so I might as well quit.” Not “I’ll restart next Monday.” Just progress - small, steady, repeatable progress.

What momentum really looks like

Momentum looks like doing the thing even when it’s not cute. It’s choosing the next best step when you don’t have the energy for the whole staircase. It’s showing up at 70% and letting that be enough for today.

Because the truth is, perfection doesn’t create results, repetition does.

The biggest momentum-killers (and how we shift them)

One of the fastest ways to lose momentum is attaching your worth to your performance. When you believe you have to do it perfectly to do it “right,” you’ll delay, overthink, and eventually disengage. The shift is learning to treat your goals like a relationship: you don’t abandon it because you had a rough week—you reconnect.

Another momentum-killer is waiting for the “right time.” Momentum is built in ordinary days. The unglamorous days. The days when you don’t feel like it, but you do it anyway, because you’re committed to who you’re becoming.

How to build momentum (starting today)

We kept it simple and practical, because momentum loves simplicity.

Start by choosing one goal to focus on for the next 7–14 days. Not ten. Not everything. One. Then ask yourself: What is the smallest version of this that still counts? That’s your baseline. That’s your “I can do this even on a hard day” plan.

From there, you make it visible. You put it on your calendar. You track it in a way that feels encouraging, not punishing. And when you miss a day (because you will - you’re human), you don’t spiral. You return.

That’s momentum: returning faster.