New Year’s Resolution- Learn how to be successful
Have you noticed the gym is not as busy as it was the second week of January? What
is the reason? This got me curious about New Year’s resolutions. Have some people
lost sight of their New Year’s resolutions?
“In a fascinating series of studies conducted by Psychology Professor Richard
Wiseman at the University of Hertfordshire found that while over half of individuals
surveyed who made New Year’s resolutions were confident of success, in reality
only around 12% actually achieved their goal.”*
In another study by the University of Scranton, 92% of people did not accomplish their
New Year’s resolution.
Wow…
That’s 88-92% who did not succeed in reaching their New Year’s resolution.
I often go to Wikipedia to find a definition. What is a New Year’s resolution? Their definition, which I find useful is, a person resolves to change an undesired trait or behavior, to accomplish a personal goal or otherwise improve their life.
We all have good intentions when we make our New Year’s resolution. It’s ok to make New Year’s resolutions but only if you see them not as unbreakable promises to yourself, but as positive statements about possibilities says Jason Elias, PhD,
licensed clinical psychologist, McLean Hospital.
There has been much debate and many articles written about New Year’s resolutions. Do I make one or not? Will it be yes or no? My opinion is yes. Make a New Year’s resolution!
According to Statisticbrain.com, People who explicitly make resolutions are 10
times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t explicitly make
resolutions.
The three ways to be successful in setting New Year’s resolutions:
1. Be crystal clear what your “why” is.
Is it external or international motivation?
Does someone else want you to lose weight or would you like to
lose weight because your High School reunion is this summer?
Have the
resolution be meaningful to you.
2. Set a SMART Goal. It has been said that a goal without a plan is just a wish.
What is a SMART goal?
Gary Ryan Blair, author of Goal Setting 101: How To Set and Achieve a Goal
Our minds work best when we give it a specific target.” The brain works like a
pilot light, and once you specify what you want with complete certainty this helps
set your mind to work on it.”
An example of a SMART goal is. Because I know I want to lose weight I will
Exercise at least 20 minutes 4x/week and have sweets (candy, cake, muffin,
pies: etc.) only on the weekend.
A 2002 article in the Journal of Clinical Psychology reported that resolvers
with a concrete plan were much more likely to have succeeded in sticking to
their resolutions at the six-month mark**
3. Have an accountability partner
An accountability partner helps you keep
to your commitment.
That person can help you accomplish your goal by
keeping with the motivation long after the thrill of the start. For example; if
you do not feel like going for a walk because you are tired or it is raining out,
you may not want to let the person down because they are counting on you
going with them on the walk. Most people find it more difficult to disappoint
another than to disappoint themselves. It seems to be human nature.
Did you make a New Year’s Resolution? If so, how are you doing? Each year we are inspired because it is a new beginning. Also, each day is a new beginning.
If you have made a few slips, remember it is not too late to re-evaluate and start again!
Comment below if you believe in or have set a New Year’s resolution.
And if you have set a resolution goal, how it’s going so far and let me know in the comments how I can help you overcome your struggles.
I want to help you, and just remember that it’s okay to “fall off” and get knocked down once in awhile on the way to what you want to achieve, the important thing is to learn from it and stay the course.
You CAN do it!