It’s January. The mecca of change. The Super Bowl of life-improvement. Everyone is aware of their need to shift. They are asking you what you are doing.

What’s your word for the year?

What are your resolutions for 2017?

Was 2016 good for you? What do you have planned for the new year.

Funny, though, it’s also a time for depression and depletion. Let’s face it, in the last month, you probably slept less, ate more, exercised less, spent more. And after thoroughly gutting your reserves, you are supposed to be ready to run a sprint that will last a marathon. It’s the New Year conundrum.

It’s more likely you are ready for a change mentally. You might have even figured out what you want to do. But your body, your soul, they need flood banks to keep the energy of the new year to keep from flowing everywhere and eventually dissipating.

Here’s six flood bank principles to keep your New Year vitality bright.

• Do it anyway.

You have a goal, right? The midwestern morning chill on a January run isn’t welcoming. I don’t want to do it. But I want the riches that await me — the strong muscles, the long term health, the springtime speed that comes from this investment. Yes it’s cold. Yes it’s early. But when I do it anyway, I lay the foundation for success in my future. Make a list of every reason that stands in your way. Now, vow to do it anyway. Prepare to make it easier. You have options.

Lay out your clothes before you run. Put together everything you need to get started on that project.

Just ignore the thoughts and do it. Let your feelings catch up with you.

Do it later. Say to yourself, “take that anti-goal thoughts.” I did it anyway.

Remember this: the win happens in the anyway.

• Make it harder, not easier.

When you are feeling weak, do more. I know, it’s counterintuitive but your brain is a whiny little sissy. Show it who’s boss. A few weeks ago, the sidewalks were particularly icy and the only way to get through the run was to run on the crunchy, uneven grass. I ran slower. My legs burned. But I noticed when I was able to get back on firm ground, it somehow felt easier, as if I was given an extra burst of strength. When you make it harder, you elevate your normal.

• Create a really clear short term view.

The long term view, losing 100 pounds, or getting a new job, or running a marathon, might be inspiring to some but for the rest of us, it quickly turns becomes a distant impossibility. Set your direction using your vision and then put it away. Get clear on the short term. Today, this week, maybe if you are really strong—this month. If you want to eat a bunch of fruits and vegetables, put them all on a plate in the fridge. It might actually happen!

The clear short term view also comes backwards. See what you have done. Decide whether you really want it. Identify the challenges and get rid of them or adjust your goals. Make the most of what is working and grow from there. Your mind needs patterns. Your soul needs progress. Find a way to feed it to yourself with short term clarity.

• Create alternatives.

If you treat success as an all or nothing thing, you’ll end up with nothing. Create a back up plan for the days you just can’t muster the actions. So you planned to write 20 pages a day. And 3 days later, you are 60 pages behind. Maybe you need to invest in a different way. Talk to an accountability partner. Take time out to enjoy beautiful writing from other authors. Get out an play. Your New Year’s energy will return. I promise.

• Don’t expect 100% of 100% of your potential every day. Expect 100% of what you got.

You are a fantastical being, full of potential. But no matter how awe inspiring your peak performance may be, it will never be an every day occurence. Long term success does not involve ignoring how you feel. You can’t gut it out day after day, pretending you aren’t tired, or lonely or overwhelmed. On those days, you move a little slower, knowing that is your “100%.” What you don’t do is allow those things to stop you. You just learn to step over them and go at the pace you can muster. Your strength will come back and those days you did “something” will pay off.

• Understand your success pace.

If we ran the life-course alone, we might not need this point. Truth is we walk the journey with many people, whether we are just watching them or actually working with them. Understand your own pace of success and everything will change.

There are people who run slower in training  but on race day run faster. Don’t run behind them. There are people who run longer and harder than you and if you try to keep up, you’ll break down and finish nothing. Don’t try to keep up.

Get how fast you need to go, to get where you need to go. You might have to save more. Or practice a little longer. Or you might need to do a little less to get further. Understand your own strength, your needs, your success patterns. It will help you to write down what you do and review it regularly until you fully understand yourself!

My invitation to you:

Want more coaching? Don’t want to do this New Year alone? Do you have 20 minutes a day to invest in yourself?

I invite you to join my super low investment, very high impact, online coaching experience, The 100 Day Journey: New Year’s Kickstarter. Each week you receive a coaching lesson from me. Complete simple assignments, enjoy a lively and interactive online group, and invest in your best life with videos, live calls and encouragement.

Just click here to find out more!