Matt Hazard

With 2026 sweeping its predecessor out the door, the winds of change bring along with it opportunity for improvement. Some people choose fitness, some people choose diet, but I went with an impulse and changed my ringtone.

There’s something to be said about ‘instant gratification’. While it’s not a great idea to rely on that all of the time, it can definitely help shotgun motivation forward with other goals. Confused? Stay with me…

When was the last time you made your bed after waking up in the morning? If your answer is something to the effect of “a decade or more”, don’t beat yourself up; you’re not alone. A study showed that something as simple as making your bed in the morning can boost productivity throughout the day. Small changes can create an environment for positivity!

Not everyone is on board with the concept of New Year’s resolutions – some people think it’s tacky and cliche. A friend recently told me that waiting for an arbitrary date to set goals is absurd. Frankly, I think they’re wrong. Anything that can motivate you set a goal is great, and if it works for you, embrace it.

Some people – myself included – need a little more than just a plan to facilitate change. When I lost weight, I needed the extra push of friendly competition to motivate me. When I stopped drinking alcohol, I needed a hard set blueprint because a simple ‘I’ll just stop‘ wasn’t enough. And if the changing of a year is enough to push you into action, that’s a cliche worth indulging. The bandwagon isn’t a moped, there’s no reason to feel ashamed to hop on.

If there are two points that I want to hammer home here, it’s this: any goal that offers improvement is a goal worth exploring – no matter how small – and don’t be discouraged about your goals or your timing. After all, “Rome wasn’t built in a weekend”, as they would have said if unions existed back then.

So, how exactly does changing my ringtone fit into any of this, you may ask? Was this entire article a form of validation to using Tim Robinson’s I Think You Should Leave bumper music into my daily life? How is it in any way a positive change? Well, it makes me laugh. And if one small change can bring even the slightest bit of sunshine to my day, well then, friends, the world is my oyster.

“Baby baby baby baby bay bay bay 
Whoa, baby baby bay bay bay” – John Lewis