I think sometimes there is a problem when you try to combine two concerns into one. You try to envision a complete solution that solves the big issue, but you never notice that the components each require their own separate remedy. Here, I think there are two types of self-improvement ideas that should be considered on separate terms. The first is what I'll call New Ideas, and for these I think the best approach is the one noted above - implement New Ideas immediately. The second is more like a reminder when you've drifted off the path. These may be a better fit for New Year's Resolutions. This is because if you are constantly doing self-checkups, you won't have much time left to live your life! However, it's still wise to have some moments for a quick assessment, just to ensure that you are staying true to your course.
The funny thing about all the sleep quality stuff I mentioned last week is that I had a similar moment years ago, when I was a sophomore in college. I emerged from the first semester deeply unhappy with myself and needed to make a change. I don't know how I ended up deciding to wake up earlier, but that's pretty much what happened, and I kept it up until graduation. I don't want to give too much credit to one detail from a decade and a half ago, but I think this change enabled me to get a lot more out of my college experience than I would have if I had stayed my original course. What I learned then was what I reminded myself of now - for me, six to seven in the morning was always a more productive hour than midnight to one.
In a sense, my New Year's Resolution about sleep was more of a return to a successful routine rather than a bright New Idea for 2022. There is no logical time to make these self-assessments and decide if certain routines need to be restored, so to me it might as well be January 1. Why not? If it's going to be a once-yearly process, might as well join everyone else and get in on the New Year's party.
