New Year, Same Consistency

I’ve never really been one for New Year’s resolutions. I don’t have anything particularly against them, I’ve just always favoured consistency over focusing on the switch of year as a reason to reset. I understand why people leverage the new year to re-align, establish goals, and map out the next twelve months, however for me, clarity of direction and persistent action hold more importance than the date on the calendar.

Nothing fundamentally changes when the clock ticks past midnight on New Year’s Eve. What the year-end does offer, though, is space. It’s one of the few times of the year where almost everyone down tools, creating room to recharge both body and mind and to reflect on the year that’s just passed, without the constant background noise of work and notifications.

While I don’t set resolutions, I do think there’s huge value in taking stock during this quieter period. The wins, the losses, and the lessons from the preceding twelve months.

From a training perspective, nothing changed over the Christmas period. Running continued daily, gym sessions carried on with the exception of Christmas Day, and I maintained a consistent focus on reading and learning through audiobooks and podcasts. The clock ticking midnight didn’t create a symbolic reset or restart, just a continuation of forward momentum.

Reflections on your year can be subjective, but one thing that’s become increasingly objective in recent years is the data. I’ve been using Strava since 2020, and it provides a clear, unfiltered view of the work put in over the year. Looking back, the numbers were largely a continuation of what’s come before, with only a 1–2% shift across some metrics. Consistency in action, backed by the stats:

• 4,575 miles logged, roughly the equivalent of 175 marathons

• 274-week active streak, still intact and counting

• 361 active days across the year, placing me in the top 0.4% of users

• 624 hours active, putting me in the top 0.5%

Those are the stats. No hype or bluster. I no longer post training on social media, however a few close friends, aware of the consistency of my training, have commented that they find it useful as a reference point. I don’t think I can personally lay claim to being an example to follow, but if quiet consistency provides motivation to even one person, then sharing it here feels worthwhile.

New Year’s Eve finished with a half marathon distance. As I write this, I’ll shortly head out to complete another half marathon distance on January 1st. New year, same me, same consistency, same brute force persistence.

I’ve said many times to those closest to me that I have no natural talent in pretty much anything. What I can do is put the work in, continuously, in a clear direction of travel. Running daily reinforces discipline, focus, and provides the mental space to keep learning. Over time, that compounds and supports the habits, clarity, and momentum that carry through to both my personal and professional life.

Maybe instead of a resolution going into 2026, I’ll choose a word instead.

Same word. Same work.

Consistency.