It’s almost that time again!! Time for you to decide how next year will be different than this year. You have been so successful with this in the past, right? No?!?! Maybe this year will be different. Bad news, it won’t happen unless you make some changes. But before we talk about changes, let’s talk about some basics of those resolutions.
The Basics
- First, while the numbers vary, somewhere between 10 and 60% of people keep those resolutions. I have seen the number as high as 85%, but I’m more inclined to believe the lower numbers. Whatever number you choose, the odds are not wonderful that you are going to get what you want.
- Second, setting New Year’s Resolutions seems to be a societal expectation. How many times has someone asked you, “What are your resolutions for this year?” And what was your response? It is easy to feel pressured to make a resolution you don’t plan to keep.
- Third, has the expectation become internalized as your own? When we hear something enough, we can begin to internalize that thing as something we believe about ourselves. Just like society’s version of the “ideal” body can lead to anorexia, the need for resolutions can become part of your psyche.
- Finally, some people say that you shouldn’t plan New Year’s Resolution at all. They claim that with the low success rate on resolutions, you are setting yourself up for a habit of failure. I’m not sure if I agree with this point of view because I believe that having goals (which can include setting resolutions) is an important part to improving our lives.
No, I Mean to Set New Year’s Resolutions!
So, if you really want to set one or more resolutions here are some thoughts/suggestions on how to be more successful if them. As with all things human, not all will work for everyone. So you need to pick and choose, based on your past experience what might work for you.
Five things to help you make your New Year’s Resolution a Success.
Make sure that your resolution is something you really want. Too often people pick a resolution that sounds good, was suggested by someone else, or they heard about on social media. Not that there’s anything wrong with those types of resolutions, it’s just that they aren’t something you believe in. To have any chance of success you need to internalize the resolution. When I am helping people to earn their black belts, I tell them that they need to be willing to walk through walls to attain their dream. That same concept applies resolutions. You have to believe that you want this resolution to succeed so bad that you will do what is required to achieve it!
Choose resolutions that are realistic but a stretch. The thought of losing 15-20% of your body weight, running a marathon, or earning a million dollars in 2025 is admirable. Admirable but not very realistic. Unless you are having gastric bypass surgery, have run several half marathons already or are in a profession with a million-dollar earning potential, you aren’t going to keep this resolution. Starting with something a little more modest would be a better start for next year. By the same token, unless you have severe physical limitations, a goal of walk around the block three days a week isn’t much of a stretch. Goals you pick for your resolutions should be realistically attainable but something you have to work for. Easy goals and resolutions become boring very quickly and you tend to quit them. Achieving harder goals makes the celebration at the end even sweeter.
Figure out the steps you will need to take to complete your resolution. All resolutions, and in fact goals as well have multiple smaller steps that need done to accomplish the larger goal. Saying you’re going to lose weight is fine but how are you going to do it? Are you going to exercise? When? How long? What are you going to do as exercise? Are you going to diet? Do you have one in mind? Are you going to count calories? Are you going to cut out all whites, wheats, and sweets? Whatever resolutions you have, they will have interim steps needed to complete the larger goal. The more specific you are about those steps, the more likely you are to complete your resolution!
You need to make your resolutions public. If you keep your resolutions private, it is easier to give up on them. If you make your resolutions public, you will have to explain to others why you quit. And no one wants to be identified as a quitter. Find an accountability buddy who will hold you to your resolution. They are a real asset when you feel like quitting.
Finally, make those steps habits. Resolutions tend to be short term, temporary. So by definition, once you reach the resolution/goal you may go back to your old ways if they haven’t become habits. If you revert, all the time and effort you put into achieving the goal will have been wasted. Any smoker will tell you it’s easy to quit for a day or two. To quit for the rest of your life takes a change in habits and mind set.
Setting New Year’s Resolutions can be good for you if you approach it correctly. Pick something that is important to you but realistic, plan how to get there, have an accountability buddy, and convert those steps into habits!