New Year Resolutions – Have We Forgotten Them as February Approaches?

Mike’s Monthly Thoughts and Reflections

January is famous for bright, bold resolutions that fade faster than the fairy lights. If you’re already sensing the February Dip, you’re not alone. The issue isn’t you — it’s that we’re encouraged to set big declarations with little scaffolding, high pressure, and very little compassion.

This year, I’m taking a different approach — and inviting you to join me.

The Pause Before the Plan

At Mike Phillips Training, everything begins with people, not perfection. January offers a moment to pause, reconnect with what matters, and plan from that place. You don’t need a “New You.” You need intentional, person-centred steps that honour your values and your current reality.

My desk calendar reads: “Dream it. Believe it. Build it.” A simple, powerful structure for sustainable change.

1. Dream It — Start with Meaning, Not Metrics

Before setting targets, uncover your why. Change sticks when grounded in meaning.

Ask yourself:

• What would make this year feel meaningful, not just busy?
• Whose voices — including your own — should guide your planning?
• Where do you want to feel more confident, kinder to yourself, or more effective?

“If the dream feels too big, start with the smallest piece you can reach.”

Try this 5‑minute exercise:

Choose one value you want to embody more often. Notice one small moment in your week where that value could show up.

2. Believe It — Confidence Comes From Action

Confidence rarely appears before we act — it’s built by doing. When you choose small actions, ones you can genuinely complete, you prove to yourself that change is possible. That proof becomes belief.

Pair your dream with a starter action that takes no more than 10 minutes. Celebrate micro-wins: send the email, block the hour, take the walk.

3. Build It — Make It SMART‑ish (and Kind)

Frameworks work when they support you — not punish you. Traditional SMART goals can feel rigid, so here’s a kinder, more flexible version:

• Specific enough to be clear
• Measurable simply
• Achievable                                                                                                             
• Relevant to your values and role
• Time‑bound with tiny time boxes (10–25 minutes to start)

Or try SMALL goals for your first fortnight:

• Simple
• Meaningful
• Achievable
• Low‑effort
• Lasting

Example

• Dream: “I want calmer, more focused mornings.”
• Believe (action): Put phone in another room overnight.
• Build (SMART‑ish): For the next 10 weekdays, I’ll spend the first 10 minutes at my desk planning today’s top 1–3 tasks.
• Measure: A simple daily task.

The February Dip—and How We Avoid It

Plans often falter when novelty fades. To bridge the gap:

1. Shrink the step .
2. Schedule a mid‑month reflection: What’s helping? What’s hard? What’s next?
3. Seek light accountability a colleague, a coach, a post‑it reminder.
4. Re‑ground in values: Why did this matter?

Remove friction: pre‑set workspace, templates, or calendar blocks.

A Quick Planning Template – For FREE, because we all love free stuff!

For Teams & Leaders

• Start meetings with a Values Check‑In.
• Swap big promises for achievable steps — learn, adapt, repeat.
• Offer permission to start small.

A Personal Note — and an Invitation

I’m excited to share that my new website is launching this month. It’s designed to make it easier to find resources, book training, and explore ways we can co-create learning that sticks.

Keep an eye out—I’ll be posting updates and a few launch‑week goodies.

If you’d like support turning January’s intentions into February momentum, I’m here — through training, consultancy, facilitation, or coaching.

Final Thoughts

Let’s begin not with pressure, but with purpose. Dream it. Believe it. Build it. One compassionate step at a time.

Over to YOU: Release Your Potential

These are my thoughts and perspectives.  (I’m not necessarily right or wrong, simply starting a conversation).

So, what about your thoughts? What is YOUR perspective?

I’d love to hear your thoughts, reflections, gut reactions, perceptions, experiences and wisdom.

• Do any of these things ring true for you and can you see yourself putting these into action?
• What would it look, sound and feel like (for you and others) if you put somke of these tips into action?
• What barriers might you come against when putting these tips/ideas into action? How might you overcome them?
• Who could give you support and how?
• Have you tried these tips and ideas out and, if so, what have you learned?

Remember that sharing our experiences can help others, so your thoughts and comments are always welcome.

Thanks, in advance, for adding to the conversation.